top of page

Brass

Trumpet​

• The soprano voice of the brass family
• Can be soft and gentle with a mute but also extremely loud
• Associated with jazz (Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong)
• Other forms of trumpet include the flugelhorn and cornet​

Hear it Solo:​

Hear it in the Orchestra:​

French Horn​

• Usually associated with the hunting horns of the past
• Has a mellow sound but can also be tremendously powerful
• Most common use of the horn in the orchestra is simply as harmonic filling
• Horn players use their right hand for pitch control and to change the timbre​

Hear it Solo:​

Hear it in the Orchestra:​

Trombone​​

• Used in orchestra's grandest and most powerful moments
• Has the ability to slide between notes (glissando) by using a slide
• Using the slide to play fast often sounds inevitably comic - often used for cartoon soundtracks
• Trombones come in three main sizes: alto, tenor and bass​

Hear it Solo:​

Hear it in the Orchestra:​

Tuba​

• Has a beautiful warmth and richness in its sound
• Can be immensely powerful when is played loud
• Many variations in construction and name from country to country
• Several types: tenor tuba (euphonium), bass tuba, contrabass tuba etc​

Hear it Solo:​

Hear it in the Orchestra:​

bottom of page