Tine Thing Helseth Revisited

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Since the beginning of her career, Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth has championed the trumpet repertoire amongst audiences on six continents, meriting the highest critical praise for her soulful, lyrical sound and collaborative approach to music-making. An artist who challenges genre boundaries with an intensely creative, open-minded philosophy, Tine’s ever-expanding repertoire ranges from the classical period to contemporary works and new commissions. She has been the recipient of numerous awards for her work in classical music, including “Newcomer of the Year” at the 2013 Echo Klassik Awards, the 2009 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, and second prize in the 2006 Eurovision Young…

Concerts Past and Present

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One blessing which I recognize for its importance in my life is the ability to remember many of the concerts I have been involved with. Some are remembered for their success and some for the disaster that incurred. Some are recalled for their importance and some for just the sheer pleasure of their moments in time. In this post I will speak of three ensembles I have had the great pleasure of performing with. The first was from the distant past, the second midway through my life and the third which was performed only a week ago. Earliest Concerts- The…

Das Flugelhorn

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The flugelhorn has an interesting history that traces back to military and brass band traditions in Europe, with roots that intertwine with the evolution of other brass instruments. Early Origins The name “flugelhorn” comes from the German word Flügel, meaning “wing” or “flank.” It was originally used in the 18th century Austrian military where the “Flügelhornist” was a signaling officer, calling troops to the wings of the battlefield. Early flugelhorns were valveless bugle-like horns, used for signaling—much like trumpets and bugles were in various armies. Development into a Musical Instrument Around the early 19th century, as valve technology emerged, the…

What are the differences between trumpets, cornets, piccolo trumpets and flugelhorns?

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Trumpets, cornets, piccolo trumpets, and flugelhorns are all part of the brass family and look quite similar at first glance, but they each have unique characteristics that make them suited for different styles, ranges, and tones. Here’s a breakdown of their main differences: 🎺 Trumpet Key: Most commonly in B♭. Tone: Bright, piercing, and powerful. Bore Shape: Cylindrical (same diameter throughout most of the tubing), which contributes to its sharp tone. Usage: Classical, jazz, pop, marching bands, orchestras—very versatile. Range: Standard trumpet range, extending from F# below middle C to about 2.5 octaves above. 🎺 Cornet Key: Also usually in…

Shofar Sho Good!

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A shofar (pron. /ʃoʊˈfɑːr/, from Hebrew: is an ancient musical horn typically made of a ram’s horn, used for Jewish religious purposes. Like the modern bugle, the shofar lacks pitch-altering devices. All pitch control is done by varying the player’s embouchure. The shofar is blown in synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and at the very end of Yom Kippur, and is also blown every weekday morning in the month of Elul running up to Rosh Hashanah. Shofars come in a variety of sizes and shapes, depending on the choice of animal and level of finish. You may ask, what is information about a Jewish instrument doing on a trumpet player’s blog? Especially due to the fact that the host of this…

Stockholm Chamber Brass- “It Doesn’t Get much Better Than This”

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With the support of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, this ensemble took part in the 1988 International Competition for Brass Quintets in Narbonne, France, where it won first prize. The quintet has played a major role in expanding the modern repertoire of brass quintets. Since its founding, it has commissioned and premiered more than 50 compositions. The ensemble is considered one of the world’s leading brass ensembles and plays at festivals such as the Kissinger Sommer and the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, and recently also at the Lower Saxony Music Days. The members give master classes at music academies and…

Studio musicians- Don Thomas, the best……

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Musical employment can take many forms. Some musicians spend their careers in symphony orchestras.  Some make a living performing in theaters in New York and Las Vegas, and some may find employment on the road with big bands. In each case, the thrill and sometimes disappointment is worth all of the hours and day one has spent in practice rooms around the country, and world. One segment of music which seldom is talked about is the working studio musician, and one of the best was Mr. Don Thomas. I have written previously about this trumpet legion but recently I came…

THE 2025-2025 KING’S BRASS AUDITIONS

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“I just received this recent announcement of dates and times of auditions for this amazing ensemble (The King’s Brass), and Mr. Zimmerman has asked me to share this with our readers”, Greetings from The King’s Brass- The group just finished their 2024 Christmas & 2025 January Tours.  From Christmas at Mt. Hermon Conference in California to the Florida Premier of Dan Forrest’s Creation, at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, it was a tour to remember. Please forward the attached 2025 Audition information to musicians who would be interested in joining The King’s Brass for the 2025-2026 Season.  We value…

Nathan Little- In His Own Words

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From time to time, we are impressed with people and/or things that seem more important than the norm. This was the case when I first encountered the musicianship of the son of one of my best friends and college Don Little (Tuba extrordinare, University of North Texas faculty). For a short time, Don and I were members of a very active Faculty Brass Quintet at the University of Northern Iowa. When I first learned of Nathan Little, it was through a casual communication with Don, sharing with me that his son, Nathan, was a Trumpet player. From that point on,…

Jazz Is Alive and Well in Sherman, Texas…

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If you have not spent some time in Sherman, Texas, you have missed an event that you would have remembered for the rest of your life. If you are a Jazz fan and have not experienced the amazing collection of Jazz memorabilia in Sherman, Texas, you are not a true Jazz fan! If you think you know a lot about the history of Jazz, you are delusional! I encourage you to experience a true transformation back to the time of the big bands, tight Jazz combos and the legacy, history and “feel” of America’s only true art form. You need…