Orchestral Excerpt Insights: Batallán Plays Mahler

For CSO Principal Trumpet Esteban Batallán, the instrument is an extension of his voice, and that serves as the foundation of his music-making. When performing Mahler's iconic Symphony No. 5, Batallán emphasized, “Don't forget to sing. That's the most important thing - singing, phrasing. Everything needs to have sense. Make sure that you are singing to the end, and you have one really clear idea.”
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[@ArturoSandovalTrumpet]

Dear Esteban, I'm so happy and proud to be your friend, you are absolutely amazing musician, beautiful person and incredible trumpet player, may God bless you.

[@alexanderhenao6806]

Que un mounstruo de trompetista como usted maestro Arturo tenga tan buenas palabras sobre otro colega habla muy bien de usted. Que ejemplo de humildad.

[@MarconiJazz]

I totally agree what Arturo is telling you. You replace Mr. Herset amazingly well and believe me, is not easy to replace him but you own the right to sit on the chair he left empty after he sadly passed. You just are perfect! Your sound, your projection, your flexibility, your musicality etc etc everything is perfection. I can only clap my hands again and again l. Congratulations Esteban

[@stevesaunders6881]

“Don’t forget that we are musicians, and not just trumpet players.” Amen, and amen.

[@estel5335]

I'm a simple man. I see a Mahler video, I click.

[@StocksIn60Seconds]

Lol, saaaaame.

[@allwinds3786]

What is my favorite Mahler symphony? What ever one I just heard.

[@bracyncraintpt]

Batallan gave a masterclass at UMKC and he played this excerpt…10 feet from my face head-on. This recording doesn’t do justice to how unbelievably loud and full he played. Top 1 favorite experiences

[@wopperaef4724]

I was there too! He genuinely filled the entire room (and beyond) with his sound … scary good stuff

[@Muzakman37]

Most definitely the Bud successor we've been waiting for at the CSO, what an absolute knockout sound,projection & style. Vamos Esteban!

[@velocirapture89]

Chris was excellent, too.

[@Will_Moffett]

Meh. It seems like all the players from his generation are the same mediocre player. It's ok though there are a lot of good young players coming up, just got a bad batch somehow.

[@Muzakman37]

@@velocirapture89 I always found Chris to be solid but not very exciting, certainly not in the Maurice/Bud/Rolf Smedvig/Phil Smith mould at least, and the CSO top chair really needs that kind of player if it's to retain its trademark Brass sound.

[@chasefreak]

@@Muzakman37 Well put, I also know Mr. Schilke would LOVE Esteban's sound as well

[@christophersizemore7989]

Incredible sound production and musicianship i love the way he doesnt play in the box and play it safe . The most exciting principal trumpet player in the world today in my opinion chicago is a perfect fit .

[@adamc.715]

I heard him play Pictures at an Exhibition the other week, and it was nothing less that incredible. So much commitment to every single note, and definitely the successor to Bud everyone has been waiting for!!

[@stephenjablonsky1941]

There are 100 musicians sitting on the stage listening to you and you alone. It don't get scarier than that. Esteban is amazing.

[@victorquintanillamoreno2467]

What an incredible trumpet player! Total control of articulations, amazing purity of sound and musicality. Congratulations Esteban.

[@mutex1024]

I remember seeing a video of him playing a recital years ago and thinking "this guy plays loud as fuck!" He's still at it

[@bozbell9010]

😂

[@hyperstargaming6150]

But the thing is he’s GOOD at it. When he does it, he does it BEAUTIFULLY, and it always fits the context of the moment and the piece. Esteban is nothing short of absolutely special.

[@czarnick2]

That octave A slur was like butter. Exquisite playing

[@tomschlueter7034]

It's good to hear Bud's horn again.

[@allwinds3786]

Is that one of the CSO Strads?

[@richtomasek9308]

@@allwinds3786 Yes, He is playing Bud's horn.

[@chasefreak]

is this one of the Bach C's the CSO purchased back in the '50's? If so, there were initially a total of 6 Vincent Bach brought on the train from NY to Chicago. 4 were chosen, the other two are MIA. Ironically, Ren Schilke was the sole distributor for Bach Trumpets in the early-mid '50's in the Chicago area

[@wythetrumpet6419]

Bravo Esteban! Thank you for explaining the approach to Mahler 5! It's great to have you in Chicago!

[@galetrumpet]

Marvelous playing. As a student I got to hear Herseth and attend rehearsals that he was leading, with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and heard Philip Smith too. Esteban is really carrying on the tradition, isn't he?

[@IakobusAtreides]

This is playing at the absolutely highest possible level. Metaphysical. We are musicians first.

[@beppemusic82]

Ohhh whoa, a real top notch first trumpet after Bud. So great, and great person. I think that when I speaks about "thinking" music and parts in a certain way, he means also "feeling", being intellectually and emotionally connected to the parts you have to play. Absolutely excited to see him in CSO.

[@speakbulgariantoday]

“Don’t forget that we are musicians, and not just trumpet players.” YES!

[@allwinds3786]

What a core of sound! Bud would be pleased.

[@SoundtheTrumpet2023]

My favorite orchestral piece. Love the 1st Movement!

[@Jzzmus]

Looking forward to hearing this monster play live.

[@wythetrumpet6419]

Bravo Esteban! You are such a wonderful trumpeter! The Chicago Symphony is Blessed to have you! I know Bud would approve! 🎺👍

[@LuisFredTrombon]

Preciosa lectura, bravo Esteban!

[@doctorcane]

Very well put Esteban. Glad to have met you with my good friend John while in Palm Beach in recent years. Look forward to having a chance to talk more with you. Bravo...and who doesn't love Mahler 5 if you are a trumpet player?

[@rwtrpt]

Stunning playing!

[@miguelolivaresmoraleda4349]

Esteban!!!💕 Grandísimo!!!

[@jluf3473]

Bravo!

[@FranciscoSanchez-jo2kf]

Espectacular! Gracias!

[@vicente1049]

Enhorabuena Esteban, absolutamente genial ❤

[@miffy9871]

What an amazing sound and sense of phrasing. He’s a trumpet Pavarotti.

[@mmcspedon]

Absolutely wonderful. Thank you!

[@finselbuch]

this is my FAVORITE... outstanding

[@StocksIn60Seconds]

How do you dislike this?!?!?! So many are seriously jealous, holy shit.

[@gaudenziolocatelli7473]

Magnifica interpretazione

[@glynburtt]

Musical, strong. Superb.

[@michaelcervantes1311]

This is the way

[@budlawrence4847]

Yes it is a beautiful piece!

[@johnnyz7752]

One word, Beautiful !!! I'm so proud that I got to comment after Arturo Sandoval.

[@juanvidueirossanchez3640]

Bravo!!!!🔝

[@paulMcGlothin]

Beautiful playing!

[@lvtuba]

GLORIOUS!!!! Thanks!!!!

[@The80sBoy]

Absolutely fabulous video, Esteban, lots really useful musical information. Bravo!

[@starwf07]

Mmm. Such a delicious sound.

[@abnercotto2368]

Thank you !!!!

[@Littleindiemarshmallow]

Very well articulated!

[@jmolina77tr]

Great sound!!!

[@amangogna68]

Amazing !

[@kennethclark3658]

Maravilloso!!

[@FabianFlament]

Wonderful sound ! I make a VOSTFR for french trumpetist ! Thank you !

[@marije179]

Absolutely beautiful. Beginner me is trying to achieve playing this with ease and beauty. Just 1 thing tho. "trumpet in B flat" lol that's a C trumpet, it's playing concert C# with 3 valves down, B flat doesn't do that.

[@guy-mh2xl]

This piece is written for Bb so you could still find the music and play along.

[@adrians.444]

You are 100% correct! Because he is playing a C trumpet, the notes that are written must be played down a whole step (two semitones lower). This is known as transposition. Written D# would be played as C#, written F# would be played as E. Hope this makes sense.

[@mr.michael5691]

@@adrians.444 Transposition is the one and only thing I despise in music, though it's necessary, it just a pain in the neck...anyways, nice explination!

[@cobyschoolman290]

the c trumpet is smaller than the b flat, so it’s able to achieve a brighter sound, which i’m guessing is what esteban wanted

[@mutex1024]

C is the American "standard" orchestral trumpet.

[@beatrizandrade3939]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😍💕 Belíssimo!

[@juancarlossanchez2792]

Bravisimo

[@us-Bahn]

Really see the pivot when he drops the octave to Ab below the staff

[@esenio1204]

Eres Oro puro.

[@BrianJohnstonTrombone]

I'd like to meet the person who gave this a thumbs down...

[@aidanolesen381]

Probably the runner-up for the principal job

[@edroth555]

@@aidanolesen381 nope, not them. I study with that person, who is another major principal Trumpet in the US and an amazing player. Ultimately not the job for them and Esteban is the perfect fit for the CSO and a wonderful successor to Bud (my teaching lineage comes from Mr. Herseth, so I am quite familiar with his sound and philosophy)

[@stephenjablonsky1941]

I'm guessing it was a rock guitarist.

[@AdamKeele]

I think I need to go hear the CSO again....

[@woomichen1378]

Bud would be proud!

[@mikefromflorida8357]

Nice to see measures called measures, and not bars.

[@lvtuba]

Is it sacrilege to say I like this better than Bud Herseth?

[@BrianJohnstonTrombone]

No, because you didn't say that this is better than Bud, you just said that you prefer this.

[@RonRova]

Not at all! Preferring one takes nothing away from the other!

[@StocksIn60Seconds]

Bud Herseth is the most overhyped player perhaps ever. Change My Mind.

[@JSJFlow]

Not at all! I doubt I’ll ever stop worshiping Bud, but there are other voices to be heard, which I’m sure he would be the first to point out. Battalan is a fabulous successor.

[@JSJFlow]

@@StocksIn60Seconds I’m certain that the most overrated ever would be Maurice Andre. Herseth lived and breathed music. He always told a story. To me, Andre seldom made art, despite all the stunning physical aspects of his playing.

[@LeRenish69]

Wouaw 😨💪🤗

[@kevinhateswriting]

Whoa...is he playing C natural with 2&3 @1:22?

[@michaelfoxbrass]

Yes - 2and3 is common alternate fingering for 3rd-space C on C trumpets.

[@edstud1]

Very nice playing. What brand and model trumpet and mouthpiece does he play!

[@loganwooden3915]

He's playing Bud's Mt Vernon 229 in these recordings.

[@edstud1]

@@loganwooden3915 does he play a bach mouthpiece?

[@LEMONZEBRA554]

🥶

[@danontuba9]

magnificent.... I would love to hear it also on a Bb rotary trumpet

[@velocirapture89]

Querido Esteban, de donde viene usted?

[@ransomcoates546]

He plays the ‘Herseth triplet’.

[@johnkececioglu6766]

Exactly! Why is it so out of rhythm? Funny how many players copy Bud’s idiosyncrasy here.

[@martinmenke1369]

Look at the part. The answer is right there.

[@davidalderson4980]

​@@martinmenke1369it is. This is wrong. But this guy is a great player without doubt.

[@xtr77777]

this guy is the real deal 👏👏

[@dili1818]

1:16

[@Deesie89]

I like more the Bflat trumpet for Mahler 5. I think the C trumpet is not large enough. But brilliant playing!

[@psg8204]

It's written for B-flat in the score, but these examples are played on C.

[@tromba1592]

Bb articulations will not sound brilliant enough in the orchestra. That’s why *most major players use C, like you even said for the brilliance.

[@adrians.444]

@@tromba1592mostly tradition. Check out the many top pros using rotary trumpet with a more “blossomed” articulation.

[@tromba1592]

@@adrians.444 yes, I’m familiar, I’ve played and performed on rotary many times. Many European orchestras ( Vienna, Berlin, etc) Still use C rotary. Comparing piston to rotary is the not same as comparing Bb piston to C piston. Two different sounds.

[@adrians.444]

@@tromba1592 agreed! But you made a comment about “brilliance.” My point was, tradition dictates what people do, usually. We perform on both rotary and pistons in the US, the former nearly never for Mahler. Why not compare the sounds between rotary and perinet trumpets? One can argue that a Bb rotary can be more brilliant than a C piston when pushed (projection is a different topic). Again, most people choose their equipment based on tradition. Some choose the best tool for the job, sometimes, those ideals align.

[@jmh4501]

Chad Esteban vs Virgin Chris Martin

[@nandocordeiro5853]

Ok lmaoo

[@tromboneman4517]

Chris Martin is a great player. Don’t insult him like that.

[@markusrose970]

at 0:32 its a triad instead of an eights and two sixteenths ;-)

[@don4476]

He's good. But can he play "The Horse" in a pep band? That's the real measure of a trumpet player. ;-)

[@nrcg2317]

He's not just a trumpet player, he's a musician.

[@aliciadalbey1201]

Why does everyone play those triplets wrong! It’s literally quarter notes triplets why do people augment the rhythms Jesus

[@jakenowell5211]

They're supposed to be rushed and 'fleeting'

[@tromba1592]

Listen to Mahler’s original wax recording, they are to be “fleeting” or compacted, so he is in fact correct. If one plays just as on the page it will sound stagnant, one that completely understands Mahler should know this!

[@adrians.444]

Great question! As others said, there is a recording of Mahler playing this on piano. He “rushes” the triplets. And, he even goes so far as to write his specific instructions on the first page of this symphony. If you follow the small “X” atop the page, you will be led to the statement written at the bottom; “Die Auftakt-Triolen dieses Themas müssen stets etwas flüchtig (quasi accel.) nach Art der Militärfanfaren vorgetragen werden“, i.e., “the upbeat triplets of this theme must always be played somewhat superficially (quasi accelerando), in the manner of military fanfares”.

[@finncormack4185]

Why do random youtube commentors always think they know sooooo much better than the pros?

[@gpunique]

Well if everyone does it this way and you don't MAYBE you are wrong? Learn to translate german before commenting.

[@b286guy]

Bravo!

[@sebastianmorris4316]

1:43

[@BassetHoundTrio]

Bravo!!

[@1jireh]

1:42