In the last in our series of Brass 2024 repertoire blogs, we take a look at the new pieces added for trumpet. The trumpet list has had 10 new pieces per grade added to it including duets, pop classics and hits from stage and screen. Read on to see our top 10 picks!
My Black Cat by Martin Yates, Grade 1
Here is an opportunity in this fun piece to learn about the six-eight time signature and how to develop the technical contrasts between staccato and legato tongued articulation.
Lift-off! by Kay Charlton, Grade 2
This is a dramatic duet requiring a solid pulse when playing syncopated rhythms. There is plenty of scope here to develop the dynamic contrasts and look deeper into the detail of the articulation markings.
Chancery Calypso by Ryan Linham, Grade 2
We have built in some options for duets so you can learn and play along with a friend or teacher. This initially develops a linking-up style, where you can match tone and rhythms in a copy type game, then join in some unison rhythmic playing.
In the Midnight Hour by Pickett & Cropper, arr. Ramskill, Grade 3
A soul classic with energy, neat articulation and smooth scalic passages. This piece requires a taut rhythmic sense - we think you will enjoy learning this one!
I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' (from Porgy and Bess) by George Gershwin, Grade 4
The light staccato and broad tenuto articulations play an important role in creating the character and good-hearted mood of this piece. The challenging first valve slur from D to F will highlight the importance of practising lip flexibility exercises and why they are a feature of the Technical Work section of our Brass exams.
Don't Rain on my Parade by Jule Styne, arr. Lawrence, Grade 5
This song was originally in the hit musical of the 60s, Funny Girl, but has become more well-known recently from the American series, Glee. With its bold singing style and confident sense of delivery, this piece suits some of the trumpet's potential qualities perfectly!
Night Fever by Gibb, Gibb & Gibb, arr. Juchem & Schädlich, Grade 5
We have added several classic movie/pop themes in this grade and, at first glance, the rhythms look complicated if you are not familiar with playing this style of music. We suggest listening to an original recording to get into the lively disco genre and translate this into your performance. It requires fast and neatly articulated playing with a solid rhythmic feel. It covers a narrow pitch range for this grade and could be a good choice for those less comfortable sustaining playing up to top G but are good rhythmically.
Winter Landscape with Skaters by Celia McDowell, Grade 6
To embrace the subject of this painting, performers are required to develop in musical terms the graceful and flowing style; swaying to and fro, the occasional twist and turn, all set within a lively and fun-loving mood. Keen attention is required to the slurred patterns and staccatos, the even measurement of all the semiquavers and triplets, and a secure pulse.
Tango de Noche by Andrea Price, Grade 7
The book, Around the World, develops some interesting pieces using rhythms and characteristics of folk styles taken from a variety of different countries.
The chosen piece is inspired by Argentinian musical styles and begins with a bold and commanding intro. The next three sections build up in speed and intensity from the 'stately'. through an 'energised' section, to conclude with a fast-paced 'impassioned' section. The piece will test the performer's flexible finger and lip control, their ability to make distinct jumps in speed between the sections, and develop well-moderated dynamic levels. This piece will challenge the performer's stamina if the playing style is forced and uniformly loud.
Where Eagles Soar by Darren Fellows, Grade 8
From a technical perspective, this piece requires good control of tone quality across the pitch range, and ease of delivering flexible and smoothly slurred fluency across the notes, all achieved with a singing tone. Other sections require neat and alert focus of articulation. Musically, there is a large scope to develop rubato, expressive shaping of phrases, and be able to contrast this with a taut and lively rhythmic style in the other sections of the piece.
To take a look at the trumpet repertoire list in full, please see our website.
Discount available on Trumpet singles
Would you like to update your repertoire collection with some new pieces? Why not check out our collection of Trumpet singles available from our e-store? From now until July 2025, you can enjoy a 20% discount on these and our brass exam material ebooks. Simply enter Brass20 in the discount code box at the checkout***.
***Code is for one use per customer and cannot be used in conjunction with other promotional codes. Code expires 15 July 2025.
Special thanks to Peter and Stella Crompton, consultants for the trumpet repertoire lists, who contributed to this post.
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