> ...but believe me, trumpets will play the pedal tones!!
Sorry Scott, Looks like you'd better pour yourself a bowl of cornflakes and sit back. Trumpets will NOT play pedal tones. The only way a trumpet can play a pedal tone is if we were to change the definition of the term "pedal tone." Let's not. You see, if you have three bean burritos and a large Coke for lunch you can simply wait for the right "moment," stick a piccolo down the back of your shorts and demonstrate how the piccolo can play 6-ledger lines below the bass clef staff. But Scott, it wouldn't be a pedal tone. In the parlance of this (and any other) brass instrument list, words have meaning. "Pedal tone" has a meaning, and it is the fundamental of the instrument's employed length. This length can (of course) be changed by the use of valves. So here's one for you... CAUTION - THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WILL USE "AS-WRITTEN" PITCHES. IF YOU CAN'T REFER TO "AS-WRITTEN" PITCHES ON A LIST OF NOTHING BUT HORN PLAYERS, THEN YOU NEED A NEW HOBBY: I CAN play the basement "C" that's been talked-up here recently. However, I cannot play the F-horn's "fundamental "C" I can play the pedal F on the Bb horn, then go chromatically downward 'til I'm resting on the C (trigger, 1 + 3), but I cannot play that same pitch as an open note on the F-horn. Oh, once in a blue moon I can, but only about 3-times in 35 years. Trumpets do not play pedal tones, they play facetious notes, as outlined both in my burrito story and Professor Pizka's "special word" which I haven't looked up, but probably translates roughly to the English word "f*rt." So, here's what I've noticed; feel free to disagree, but be sure to have your cornflakes on standby: Bb Trumpet - cylindrical, but can't play PT's (also, C, D, Eb and both A & Bb Pic trumpets... NO PT's) Cornet - conical, but still no PT's Vienna rotary trumpet - MORE conical, but no PT's Flugelhorn - even more conical with tiny leadpipe, mouthpiece bore and smaller tubing, PLAYS PT's Eb Alto horn (and all its evil kin) - pedal tones out the wazoo... and sounds like it! Horn - conical to (ahem!) beat the band, Bb side does very usable PT's. F-side can, but it's tough to make a living at it Trombone - cylindrical, but plays PT's like a duck on a Junebug Bass trombone - James Bond of Pedal Tone Land. Players carry a special "green card" that reads, "007; license to f*rt!" Tuba & Euphonium - "'Pedal Tone' is our middle name!" Have a nice breakfast! (kidding) jrc in SC _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
