"Bass trumpet or baritone, nominal pitch: B♭"

Bass trumpet or baritone, nominal pitch: B♭ | Robert Schopper | Circa 1910

Bass trumpet or baritone, nominal pitch: B♭ thumbnail 2

Bass trumpet or baritone, nominal pitch: B♭ thumbnail 3

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Today we usually do not think of trumpets as bass instruments, but throughout their history, trumpets have come in many different sizes, including bass. Bass trumpets were used in trumpet ensembles, military bands, and by composers like Richard Wagner who enjoyed their dark and powerful sound.

Bass trumpet

Robert Schopper

Europe

Germany

Central Europe

Instrument Data

Instrument Information

Title

Bass trumpet or baritone, nominal pitch: B♭

Alternative Title

Bas*strompete or Tenorhorn.

Accession Number

4045

Collection

MIMEd

Date Information

Date Made

Circa 1910

Period

20th century; 1900s; 1910s

Gallery Information

Gallery

Wolfson Gallery

Case

Brasswind case 3

Maker Information

Maker Name

Robert Schopper

Made In

Country

Germany

Description

Other Information

Specific usage history: played by Arnold Myers in performances of Janacek's Sinfonietta, Strauss's Macbeth in Edinburgh.

Technical Description

Technical description: Brass with german silver trim. 3 valves. Valve type: 3 rotary valves, cork buffers on casing top caps.

Overall size: 549; bell 227.
Sounding length: minimum 2684.
Bore: mouthpipe at c 45mm from mouthpiece receiver (minimum bore) 12.3; centre of valve cluster at c 547mm from mouthpiece receiver, v.t.s. bore (3,2,1) 13.4; m.t.s. at c 868mm and at c 974mm from mouthpiece receiver, tuning slide bore 13.6; at 1342mm from bell end, c 16.2; at c 774mm from bell end, 22.9; at 25.2mm from bell end, 57.2. B = 0.63. Bell cutoff = 800 Hz.
Dia of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. 13.7 - 12.8.

Usable pitch: Plays at A⁴ = 440 Hz.

Decoration: Oak leaf and acorn motif on garland.

Signature marks: Inscribed on garland: six-pointed star / "R. Schopper / Instrumentenbauanstalt / Leipzig" and "Hus. Rgt. No. 20. / 1910. / 14."; on mouthpipe ferrule "8442".

Specific literature references: Sotheby's auction catalogue 4.11.98, lot 80; Sotheby's auction catalogue 27.10.99, lot 82; Sotheby's auction catalogue 14 16.11.00, lot 285.

Specific usage history: played by Arnold Myers in performances of Janacek's Sinfonietta, Strauss's Macbeth in Edinburgh.

Provenance

on loan to the Collection.

Classification