Trumpet
Quotes describing the timbres of the trumpet, extracted from various orchestration treatises. The list of descriptors is adapted from Wallmark (2019).
agile
“Symphonic scores after 1850 show the composers' awareness of its capacities for cantabile and extraordinary agility with figurations having large and unusual intervals.” Wagner, 1959, p. 221
blaring
“Harp glissandos, blaring trumpets, shrieking horns, and explosions from the battery (percussion section), all have their rightful place in the over-all scheme of orchestral writing but cannot be condoned in music far removed in time from the natural niche allotted to these particularly modern innovations.” Wagner, 1959, p. 13–14
brassy
“Fortissimo in muted trumpets, in the medium-to-high range, has brilliant, but brassy carrying power." Wagner, 1959, p. 222
bright
“The latter's sharper, crisper attack and brighter tone tends to give a two- dimensional sound effect which can be disturbing under certain conditions.” Wagner, 1959, p. 213
brilliant
“The tone was brilliant and powerful but scalewise, inflexible.” Wagner, 1959, p. 218
brilliant
“Other scores of the period are equally revealing in this respect, and much basic knowledge can be gained by study concentrated on the combined horn, trumpet, and timpani parts, as they constituted the sole source of tonal brilliance for orchestral music of that time.” Wagner, 1959, p. 220
brilliant
“Its brilliant, piercing tone can cut through any orchestral fabric, yet its softer tones are rewardingly smooth and well voiced for subdued melodic ideas.” Wagner, 1959, p. 222
brilliant
“Fortissimo in muted trumpets, in the medium-to-high range, has brilliant, but brassy carrying power.” Wagner, 1959, P. 1222, (dynamic: loud; timbral modifier: muted)
crisp
“The latter's sharper, crisper attack and brighter tone tends to give a two- dimensional sound effect which can be disturbing under certain conditions.” Wagner, 1959, p. 213
flexible
“With scale restrictions removed, its new flexibility and responsiveness could be applied to melodic ideas and figurations heretogore possible only in the woodwinds.” Wagner, 1959, p. 221
piercing
“Its brilliant, piercing tone can cut through any orchestral fabric, yet its softer tones are rewardingly smooth and well voiced for subdued melodic ideas.” Wagner, 1959, p. 222
powerful
“The tone was brilliant and powerful but scalewise, inflexible.” Wagner, 1959, p. 218
responsive
“With scale restrictions removed, its new flexibility and responsiveness could be applied to melodic ideas and figurations heretofore possible only in the woodwinds.” Wagner, 1959, p. 221
sharp
“The latter's sharper, crisper attack and brighter tone tends to give a two- dimensional sound effect which can be disturbing under certain conditions.” Wagner, 1959, p. 213
smooth
"Its brilliant, piercing tone can cut through any orchestral fabric, yet its softer tones are rewardingly smooth and well voiced for subdued melodic ideas.” Wagner, 1959, p. 222 (dynamic: soft)
strong
“The superior tonal strength of the trumpet is an important consideration, as it is the highest voice part in the brass section.” Wagner, 1959, p. 222
