Date of Award
12-2011
Type
Thesis
Major
Music Performance - Instrumental Concentration
Degree Type
Master of Music in Music Performance
Department
Schwob School of Music
First Advisor
Dr. Robert Murray
Second Advisor
Dr. Elizabeth Parker
Abstract
The earliest known trumpet method book to be compiled was Tutta L 'arte della Trombetta (The Entire Art of Trumpet-Playing) in 1614 by Cesare Bendinelli. This book proved to be the pioneer for six that followed by: Girolamo Fantini (1638), Johann Ernst Altenberg (1795), Joseph-Gebhardt Kresser (1836), Raniero Cacciamani (1853), Francois Georges Auguste Dauverne (1857), and Jean Baptist Arban (1864). These books alone attest that articulation was a worthy topic of discussion during this 250-year period. The purpose of this paper is to address how articulation developed through the above seven method books as well as consider how articulation is taught and studied today. I have started with Bendinelli because no earlier method book is known. I am ending with Arban because it is both a "touchstone for all those who aspire to play valved brass instruments"1 and a seminal source for methods to follow it in like manner of articulation principles. The plan for this paper is: (1) to discuss the trumpeter's role and the use of trumpet; (2) to explore how articulation was addressed with examples in these above methods' texts; (3) to exemplify the style of articulation that the Arban employed as the standard and why this standard is important; and (4) to discuss varied opinions of Arban's style and draw potential points of comparison.
In order to more fully contextualize the concept of articulation, a brief digression must be made to pre-Bendinelli (pre 17th Century) to discuss uses of the trumpet and why articulation was important. In his book, The Trumpet, Edward Tarr writes of the evolution of the trumpet from its early history to modern day. Tarr exemplifies trumpets from nine different societies including the Egyptians circa 1415 B.C., the Israelites as recorded in the bible circa 37-100 A.D., and the Greeks in the second half of the fifth century B.C. He states, "It is significant to note that the various kinds of trumpets, from prehistoric beginnings up to the Romans, had either a military or a religious function."2 Furthermore Dauverne, author of the first trumpet method book at the Paris Conservatory, explains:
It [The trumpet] is involved in all political and religious institutions; it presides over all ceremonies and all celebrations; it declares war, gives the signal to combats, sounds the retreat of the vanquished, proclaims the triumph of the victors; in games and in feasts it applauds by its fanfares the victory of those who receive the crowns.3
Recommended Citation
Locke, Nate, "From Bendinelli to Arban: Styles of Articulation Within Selected Trumpet Method Books" (2011). Theses and Dissertations. 189.
https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/189
