Mouthpieces for various brass instruments Mouthpieces and embouchures are not what I usually think about in my day to day life. (Embouchure is how the player uses his lips to play an instrument.) But, I went to visit my brother the other day.
Probably the first thing you'd notice walking into my bother's house is how his many mouthpieces for various brass instruments are displayed as decorations. Well, maybe not really as decorations because he uses them all the time, but they are on display just the same. His wife doesn't actually like all the tubas in graduated sizes sitting out all the time in the living room (so she makes him store those away), but she tolerates the mouthpieces.
Probably the first thing you'd notice walking into my bother's house is how his many mouthpieces for various brass instruments are displayed as decorations. Well, maybe not really as decorations because he uses them all the time, but they are on display just the same. His wife doesn't actually like all the tubas in graduated sizes sitting out all the time in the living room (so she makes him store those away), but she tolerates the mouthpieces.
Tuba family collection Talking to Ben Lee invariably includes lessons in the makes, manufacture and ways to play brass instruments. He has quite a collection of members of the tuba family (his specialty).
He even tells me about the differences in pistons and rotary valves. But mostly he talks about playing his favorite masterworks and which instruments and mouthpieces he'd use for each.
Who knew that you needed different instruments in different keys to be able to play pieces by the great master composers? (My mind was blown!)
He even tells me about the differences in pistons and rotary valves. But mostly he talks about playing his favorite masterworks and which instruments and mouthpieces he'd use for each.
Who knew that you needed different instruments in different keys to be able to play pieces by the great master composers? (My mind was blown!)
Last night I went to hear a Baroque Chamber group play three of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. My nephew Dr. Randy Lee played piccolo trumpet on two of them. The virtuosity of the solo instrument performers was stunning. Speaking of embouchures, Randy said that his part was so high and so fast that he nearly gave up towards the end of the last piece. (I saw him massaging his lips a lot after his performance!)
Sometimes I really get into a Baroque music mood. Right now, the choir I sing with is preparing to sing Handel's Messiah for Christmas. This type of music is so expressive and shows such variations in emotion. Everything from abject agony to exultant praise and joy. I love it!
Occasionally I feel inspired to write something of my own in Baroque style. Here is the scriptural text from Matthew 11:28-30 set for SATB and Piano. "Come Unto Him" also scored for woodwind quintet with harp.
Occasionally I feel inspired to write something of my own in Baroque style. Here is the scriptural text from Matthew 11:28-30 set for SATB and Piano. "Come Unto Him" also scored for woodwind quintet with harp.
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