It’s late enough that probably everyone has gone to sleep or is out partying in that fuzzy world where beer helps us forget everything else.
But I’ll just post this anyway, to help myself think.
About 3 months ago, I posted THIS about a guy in our symphony who died. (Possibly/probably suicide).
His memorial service was last Thursday (they kept him on ice an extra long time because they had to wait for his brother to get home from overseas).
Since he was an excellent trumpet player, I’ve been trying to think of a way to pay tribute to that by composing a piece we can play at one of our concerts. A requiem of sorts.
I haven’t started writing anything yet; I’m still thinking about it.
One doesn’t usually associate trumpet solos with sadness and grieving. So therein lies the challenge.
If I end up starting (and finishing) something, I’ll post it here.
12 comments
Isn’t the sad army tune a trumpet?
For the record I’m neither sleeping nor partying. Nope. Still holding a god damn steering wheel.
Still??
P.S. Good point about the army stuff.
Well, it’s lunch time here…. Sadly suicide is ubiquitous and not just location specific.
Any instrument can sound melancholic, the way notes are played convey more than just melody. Altering tempo and how soft a piece is played (pianissimo) and even just playing with feeling or freely can immensely effect what is portrayed and what the listener perceives. It’s about expressing different emotions so implore varied methods including maybe even a crescendo to brief forte to illustrate emotion. IMO, there is nothing worse than a piece played without emotion.
Its not necessary that a trumpet solo isn’t sad and grieving. Like Night In Atlantis said i think it depends on the tempo. Anyway it is really nice to pay a tribute to this guy. God rest his soul.
Cordless, wow! sorry this is a very sad subject, i can’t think of anything for him! you know the song’s they play for cop’s with the bag pipes i hate that stuff! or the taps you know military stuff i hate that too! i hate sad shit! i would say something he liked to listen to would be appropriate, but honestly i’m changing the subject to me and not trying to be funny for once, my song would be “Midnight in Moscow” more of a party song that expresses my attitude while being alive. i know for you fight of the bumble bee!!! OK i couldn’t help it!!! i lied!!! i’m trying to funny now!!! 🙂 OK how about the brave bull by The Tijuana Brass? All i can picture is you shaking you but to the cow bell?? hum?? i think i’m getting in deeper!!! i’ll quit now!!!
Cordless, i’m back like a bad penny i turned up again! i was serious told you what i thought then tried to make you smile 🙂 how am i going to get out of this one????? any painless suggestions would be greatly appreciated, i’m not fond of being buried up to my neck and letting the ant’s eat me or anything like that. OK how about for you, “Close to you” by the Carpenters? i’m i back on your good side???? 🙂 smiling nervously!!!!
Jazz is full of sad, forlorn trumpets. On the flip side, one doesn’t often associate banjos with jazz, and yet Bella Fleck exists (Throw Down Your Heart rocks). I think it’s cool you want to do something like this and can’t wait to hear what you come up with.
rivets, banjos!!!!!!!!! awwwwwww!!!!! if you played banjos for me i might wake up get up and kill you!! 🙂
Something he liked to listen too! that’s my vote.
I’m more likely to play violin, but I can buzz out a passable tune on banjo. Like, probably twinkle twinkle, or happy birthday with extra notes. I’d be shocked if anyone listening wouldn’t try to kill me, haha…
rivets, Especially that dueling banjo stuff! or oh Susana crap!!
www. sadtrombome . com
or
www. thesadtrombone.com
Not a trumpet though. I tried www. sadtrumpet.com and amazingly it came up with some really weird guy and an ad for a bearded lady.
I feel really removed from life today. I’m not here, I’m somewhere else. Floating. Not sure why. I’m really lonely.