Trumpet facts Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Trumpet

A Bb trumpet
Classification	Brass
Playing range
Related instruments
Cornet
Musicians
Classical trumpeters: Adolph Herseth, Sergei Nakariakov, Maurice Andre Jazz trumpeters: Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Arturo Sandoval, Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillepsie, Maynard Ferguson

A trumpet is a brass instrument used mainly in Classical music and jazz music. The most common type of trumpet is a Bb trumpet, meaning that if the player plays a C, it will sound like a Bb in concert pitch. The trumpet is played by blowing into the mouthpiece and making a "buzzing" sound. There are three keys called valves that the player can press to change the pitch.

History

The trumpet has been around for about 3000 years. An early example of a brass instrument like a trumpet is called a shofar, which is still used in religious ceremonies. Eventually people started making trumpet-like instruments with wood (for example, the cornetto), and later, with brass.

Many years ago, when the use of instrumental music was growing, trumpets became very important. Trumpets were long and without valves. This meant a player had to control the pitch of the sound with only his mouth, which was very difficult. Everyone respected trumpet players because trumpets were just so difficult to play.

The chromatic trumpet was developed in the late 18th century. Later on, valves were developed, and it became easier to play notes on the trumpet. Still, trumpet is a difficult instrument to master.

Music for trumpet

Classical music is written for solo trumpet, and trumpets are included in orchestras. Trumpets play an important part in Jazz music, and other various popular genres. Sometimes, they also play short parts to emphasize sections in rock songs.

Trumpet players

Some famous classical trumpet players are Adolph Herseth, Sergei Nakariakov and Maurice Andre.

Some famous jazz trumpet players are Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Arturo Sandoval, Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillepsie, and Maynard Ferguson.

Images

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  Ceramic trumpet. AD 300 Larco Museum Collection Lima, Peru.

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  Trumpet, 17th century.

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  Reproduction baroque trumpet by Michael Laird

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  Trumpet in C with rotary valves

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  A step = a tone; a half step = a semitone

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  Gottfried Reiche, chief trumpeter for Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig

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  Trumpet-Player in front of a Banquet, Gerrit Dou, c.1660-1665

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  Illustration for The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner from Baby's Own Aesop, a children's edition of Aesop's fables

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  Louis Armstrong statue in Algiers, New Orleans

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  Miles Davis statue in Kielce, Poland