A Short History Lesson on My Interest in Trumpet Ensembles
While still teaching at the University of Northern Iowa, I became aware of the need for trumpet ensembles. This need stemmed from the fact that we at UNI had more trumpet students involved with our program than we had ensembles for them to perform in.
The strongest talents were garnering all of the top chairs and the average players were left to play second and third cornet parts throughout their time on campus. It seemed to me that every player should have a shot at a solo once in a while and for that reason, along with my desire to compose and arrange more, I began the first trumpet ensemble at our university.
As you can see from the first photo the UNI Trumpet Ensemble began as a quintet which included two trumpets, two flugle horns and a bass trumpet. This beginning ensemble included the following players-
Bryan Bennet, Tim Bennet, Jim Vox, Bard Mackey (bass trumpet), and me.
After retiring and moving to Branson to concentrate on my bass fishing skills, I formed my new trumpet ensemble as a quintet and eventually reduced it to a quartet and that began the life of the Branson Trumpet Ensemble which has been performing concerts in the Branson area for the past eight years.
Current members of this ensemble include the following musicians-
Greg Hoffman ( performed with Tony Orlando, Diana Shore, Bill Cosby, Ray Price, Kristy Lane, Jerry Presley)
Bob Smither (United States Military Academy Band at West Point)
John Casebourn (Active music teacher in the Branson area)
Bruce Chidester (Caught a 7lb. Largemouth, 24” Brown and a 36” Rainbow Trout in the Branson area)
From this humble beginning, we have developed into one of the largest trumpet ensemble libraries on the Internet with over 1200 arrangements in our personal library. Due to the fact that our offerings on line have grown in the past two years to an unusually large listing, I have decided to simplify our available arrangements in a catalog form for our supporters.
In the following posts I will categorize our arrangements for easier access and l will begin with our “trumpet choir” offerings in this posting.
Trumpet Choir arrangements from the following areas-
Jazz/Popular
Maria /recorded by Ricky Martin (To be posted 7/11/14)
What’s The Meaning of Stonehedge
Remembering Newtown, Connecticut
Patriotic
Religious
And He Shall Purify the Son of Levi
Classicial
Fanfares
PDF file of listed material from above Trumpet Choir
Fabulous resource. Thanks.