Trumpet or Cornet - Classical Music Forums

Edward Elgar · #1 (**permalink**) Apr-27-2007, 11:24

My money is with the trumpet. What do you think? The cornet has a more mellow tone, but in my opinion, it's just a wuss version of the trumpet!

Keemun · #2 (**permalink**) Apr-27-2007, 15:52

When I started playing music, I started on the cornet. Then later I "graduated" to the trumpet. I definitely prefer the trumpet and voted accordingly.

Krumhorn · #3 (**permalink**) Apr-27-2007, 20:03

I voted for the Cornet - not as a player, but as an accompanist (piano/organ) as its "quieter" hues of sound are lots more pleasing to my ears.

mahlerfan · #4 (**permalink**) Apr-27-2007, 22:45

Trumpet all the way.

Mark Harwood · #5 (**permalink**) Apr-27-2007, 22:53

I prefer Louis Armstrong's cornet recordings to his trumpet ones.

Krumhorn · #6 (**permalink**) Apr-27-2007, 23:40

Ahhh, now there's smooooth playing - Louis Armstrong. Thanks for the memory jog

Conductor · #7 (**permalink**) Jul-09-2008, 02:18

I am a cornet player... The cornet's tone seems more pleasing to many people's ears. I voted for the cornet.

I enjoy a trumpet sound every now and then, though. Especially in fanfares.

david johnson · #8 (**permalink**) Jul-09-2008, 15:38

no wussiness in a cornet. it's a conical bore and isn't built to sound like a cylindrical bore (trumpet).

listen to bix beiderbecke play, or the marine band...wow, that's a cornet.

dj

Chi_townPhilly · #9 (**permalink**) Jul-09-2008, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Harwood

I prefer Louis Armstrong's cornet recordings to his trumpet ones.

In a too-long neglected corner of my vinyl storage, I have a couple of albums by Muggsy Spanier ("the man with the hot cornet").

I thought of voting cornet just to be contrarian. I'll delay my ballot, for now.

soundandfury · #10 (**permalink**) Jul-12-2008, 21:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Elgar

My money is with the trumpet. What do you think? The cornet has a more mellow tone, but in my opinion, it's just a wuss version of the trumpet!

I voted for the cornet.
The thing is, the cornet is not *any* version of the trumpet - they are entirely different, as evidenced by their ancestry (bugle vs posthorn).
Trumpeters are loud, boorish, and ten-a-penny, but a smooth cornet player - now that's something.
Then again, I am biased since I play the thing myself.

david johnson · #11 (**permalink**) Jul-13-2008, 03:21

soundandfury:

tell that to maurice murphy of the lso. he's expert on both and proves you observation a bit off...or maybe phil smith of the nypo - same story, as with gerard schwarz & wynton marsalis.

dj

soundandfury · #12 (**permalink**) Jul-13-2008, 19:32

sorry, I should have said that I mean the main body of each type - obviously a professional player of any instrument can usually make it sing, but among provincials I find that the cornet players tend to have a nicer sound. And the trumpet players who I have met - who, of course, are mostly not career musicians, just amateurs and hobbyists like myself - tend to be less musical than the corresponding cornet players - except for the ex-RAF trumpeters who are generally extremely good.

JoeGreen · #13 (**permalink**) Dec-20-2008, 21:39

I like the mellower sound of the Cornet.