The Eb Soprano Cornet and what it's used for, featuring a Courtois Soprano Cornet

[@99corncob]

When I was in the Michigan State University marching band many years ago, we used at least 8 Eb cornets in a band of about 180. They provided a piercing top to the band and were well covered in all of the custom arrangements that the band used.

[@RonaldAtkinson9]

That explains why Bill Moffit's Star Spangled Banner recording didn't match up to my score. Of course, the recording was Michigan State. Those Cornets REALLY make an impact to the Anthem.

[@Brassafrass]

Current MSU Eepher here! We still incorporate eight Eb Cornets into our ensemble of now about 300. We're always playing the higher (sometimes screamer) parts in our shows and everyone can hear us even though there's only eight of us. It's a lot of fun! Especially getting to march with them during "Series"!

[@lcampbell6470]

Was an Eepher at MSU in the mid-70s. Currently playing sop in a local brass band.

[@andre7089]

@@Brassafrass just outta curiousity what do you guys think of Ohio States band as they also have efers

[@Brassafrass]

@Andre I love the fact that they have eephs as well as well as their X-row dedicated to eephers and screamers. MSU and OSU are the only bands in the Big10 with eephs, so there's some nice comradery there. Speaking of OSU as a whole, my honest opinion is that their drill design and social media teams are the best in the big10 for sure. For marching abilities, it's hard to compare cause we do both high step and stride step whereas OSU only does high step, so I'd say that we're fairly equal. I would argue that MSU beats them on musicality and sound-power since we're more DCI style and a lot louder than they are. I remember playing at the skull session in 2019. Whenever we played, the OSU members in front of us had to plug their ears because all 300 of us were blasting their eardrums out with the firebird suite. We got plenty of comments from the field staff that they hadn't heard a band that good and loud play at OSU in ages. But, I'm also biased as hell, so take that as you will lol

[@bob5510]

I think a review of a "dizzy trumpet" with the upwards bending bell would make an interesting video.

[@BasedRevivalist]

I'll sell you mine, Getzen

[@connnnnnnor2096]

Im going to band camp next week. Wish me luck!

[@BassSaxEnjoyer]

i went to my band camp a week ago, i play bari sax, what do you play?

[@norwegianlass]

C0nn0r'z Rekorder Rodeo Good luck, I'm going on a one week conductor course tomorrow!

[@tiny-orange1531]

Snekles I have band camp 3 weeks from now, I play tenor sax

[@connnnnnnor2096]

Snekles trumpet

[@connnnnnnor2096]

Purple haired lass sick

[@fbtrumpet]

The Eb cornet is not only used in Brittish style Brassbands (where they are called Soprano cornet) but also in Dutch/Belgian/French Fanfare bands. The Bb cornet is the main instrument is in the Brassband, the Fluegelhorn is the main instrument in the Fanfare band (which also contains the complete Saxophone group). The function of the Eb cornet is in both bands the same: a bit of seasoning. Sometimes the Eb cornet can be found in Italian (Spanish?) wind bands. The Italian name is Flicorno Sopranino.

[@skraegorn7317]

There's one famous American marching band that uses a Soprano Cornet section in addition to b-flat trumpets (formerly cornets), that's the Ohio State University marching band. they're unusual for a collegiate band since they use only brass and battery percussion.

[@thegingergamer476]

I play a Bb cornet and have always been fascinated by the Soprano Cornet by players such as Steve Stewart, Kevin Crockford and in the SA World Ian Fountain(International Staff Band). I would love to have the opportunity to play this instrument or own one as it seems so interesting to me.

[@mbadley658]

Not much call for those outside of British brass bands, but I do American Civil War music and they were the primary melody instrument. One thing I love about them is that you don't need a ton of air to push notes. The facility of the valve-work for notes that would normally be sitting well above the staff for a Bb make it a joy to play long phrases. Just get a good breath and you can go for a long time.

[@rogermwilcox]

2:32 ... I'm glad you clarified that it was made in Paris, which is in France, and not Paris, Texas (which also exists).

[@MrNelsonsirvideo]

Writing for British Brass Band for the first time - this was very helpful! Thanks!

[@charliewhelan9488]

How did it go? Would love to hear someone's first attempt!

[@InOtherNews1]

Whenever I'm feeling down, it always seems like you upload a video! Thanks for all of the great content!

[@TrentHamilton]

Thank you mate :) I'm glad you appreciate the sort of videos I produce. What sort of thing would you like to see more of?

[@InOtherNews1]

I really like basically all the content you produce: Covers, Reviews, Explanation Videos. It really seems like you can't go wrong with any direction you're heading

[@deathawk777]

Hey Trent, I actually just recently got an Eb trumpet and I'm planning on playing the Hummel trumpet concerto on it. I never really comment but I find it very coincidental that you got an Eb cornet not long after. Thanks for reading this, I've always loved your videos and still do. I look forward to the next!

[@TrentHamilton]

Thank you. The band I conduct has had this cornet for some time, it's just now that I'm doing a video on it.

[@jean-pierredevent970]

I like the sound of it since it has something special. In operatic singing they talk about a formant and it's like this instrument has that too. I adds a kind of ringing to the brass band, vaguely resembling woodwinds. But it's hard to play if volume is needed and the intonation control eats a lot of stamina too. Then once the lips are overplayed, it's sometimes not over the next day. This can be especially stressing when doing a tour with brass band.

[@flyingwithllamas]

Sub Principle trumpet for the NZSO is an awesome Eb Sop Cornet player!

[@MikuJess]

"Where the soprano cornet plays a twiddly bit for your enjoyment." I do enjoy some nice twiddly bits. Giggity.

[@pukalo]

I used an Eb Cornet in my concert band arrangement of The Stars and Stripes Forever to play the high parts in tune with the Solo Cornet part.

[@greenshock5590]

I heard of these before being in some marching bands from the American civil war era commonly as a sax horn

[@BretNewtonComposer]

I've run across many old American marches that originally called for Eb Cornet, particularly the original scoring of Sousa marches. In all my years of research and study, I have only ever come across a single orchestral work that calls for Eb Cornet: Havergal Brian's Gothic Symphony.

[@QalinaCom]

"in Paris, which is in France"-I get all my geography tips from you, Trent, just like I get my insight about famous NZ composers ;)

[@stokerboiler]

Big user of this horn in the US is the Ohio State Marching Band, which is a huge brass and percussion band. They re-arrange using this cornet (they call it an "eefer") to replace high woodwind parts. You watch their videos and it seems most of the guys playing the eefer are 6'4" and up. Go figure.

[@trumpetplayer3308]

Ah makes me miss playing eb in our local brass band in North Carolina.

[@trumpetplayer3308]

It made me fear for my life but I don't know if I would have wanted to play anything else

[@JonFrumTheFirst]

Eb Cornet was probably the lead soprano voice in bands in 19th century United States. It was lost when trumpet became popular after 1910, and never came back, while Bb cornet did survive.

[@majcrash]

The Eb cornet was used a lot in American Civil War brass bands, which came from the British brass band tradition. However, they always seem to be doing the twiddly bits. I've never heard one double another instrument. It's quite a nice effect, though.

[@billswingle2672]

Nice. I like it.

[@iandean1112]

I need this...

[@chrysy7861]

Omg I need this!

[@stevestewart6702]

You really don’t!

[@Clarisaxx22]

will you be making videos on all the other brass instruments like this one? that'd be awesome.

[@TrentHamilton]

I pretty much have already. Check out my other videos :)

[@jasonbehm3081]

Trent Hamilton Are you ever going to make a part two to the all about the french horn video? You made a video on the compensating french horn you had restored, but that was really just a follow up on the first video about that horn and not a part two about french horns in general. Maybe you decided the french horn was too hard and gave up on it 😋.

[@mbadley658]

One thing you failed to mention is that the eefer plays in the key of Eb (sort of implied, eh?) - many times a lot easier to play in than on the Bb (think of Washington Grays, etc.) also that the Eb was the primary high voice for bands (particularly marching or 'outdoor' bands) - before the clarinet became a staple of concert bands and replaced them. I love the soprano, but it's a killer. Takes a good while to get Eb chops and a good quality of sound - you can't just use your Bb chops, otherwise it sounds more like a kazoo.

[@bikkies]

I have just snapped up a B & H soprano cornet on eBay for a bargain price. It doesn't have triggers, it's had a few professionally executed repairs and has some small dents. Despite all that, I'm so charged up about it and can hardly wait to get my hands on it.

[@flyingwithllamas]

I always used a B & H Eb sop when I was brass band playing.

[@siegfreid3623]

Could you mention please the pieces you played at the beginning and at the end of the video with the cornet?

[@SpartanADHD]

Can you do a review of one of the new plastic large bore trombones with an f attachment?

[@JonathanJJJ]

I didn't realize Paris was in France! 😂

[@johnroberts5515]

Ever heard of Paris, TEXAS? (It was even the title of a U.S. film .....)

[@ClogDancingFiddler]

Thanks for another great video Trent. Is your camera set to auto focus? It seems to hunt for focus as you wave your hands about, then leaves your face slightly out of focus as a result. Maybe manual focus is the way forward. Never the less, I always enjoy your content........... and a penny has just dropped; is this instrument that the chair that is known as "Sop"?

[@lstockl5901]

What is your opinion on Robert Martel brand instruments? I have recently bought a Robert Martel french horn off of eBay for $78, its old but it works. I am not a french horn player, but I play bassoon, trombone, euphonium, and tuba/sousaphone.

[@TrentHamilton]

Hi, I've never heard of them, sorry.

[@kylesongy6986]

Trent Hamilton You should get an Instagram.

[@arthurdawg]

You should do a review for an echo clarinet.

[@mason5312]

*cornet

[@chris430811]

Trent what is the difference between a e flat cornet and e flat trumpet besides the cornet- trumpet difference.

[@TrentHamilton]

Just that. They also exist for different reasons, but it's primarily the cornet-trumpet difference.

[@TresMamboMusicSchool]

So you could play the Hayden trumpet concerto as though it was in C....right at the bottom of that thing....ha...too easy...care to whip up a recording for us at some point? Keep up the great work, cheers Pete

[@mbadley658]

Some things are easier in the Haydn on the Bb. But for the most part, I like playing it on the Eb.

[@christianabban5381]

How much is the tromba trombonw

[@TheAmazingBlaziken]

Would anyone happen to know the name of the song he uses for his intro?

[@crymodder]

Hi Trent! Can you please tell me, where can i listen the full version of "When i Survey" that you used in this video. I've been trying to find one, but hadn't found version with this fast euphonium(?) passage on a background. Sound really great and touching.

[@TrentHamilton]

Send me an email or contact me on Facebook and I'll sort you out with it.

[@chris430811]

Trent great info as always. I have a question for you, how does the Eb cornet compare to the Eb trumpet in regards to are the pitches equivalent are they both equally difficult to play and does the Eb cornet take a regular cornet mouthpiece stem and does the Eb trumpet take a regular trumpet mouthpiece stem. Thanks.

[@tungsten8290]

pitches are the same. mouthpieces are different. each instrument requires a different approach when playing, but with an Eb soprano cornet in a british brass band, you're the only one on your part and there's nowhere to hide.

[@mbadley658]

I had an Eb trumpet - and played it with a cornet band with terrible results. trumpets are so brassy and bright. Cornets, nice and mellow. I found it much easier to be 'nice' with the cornet than a trumpet. However, when playing things like the Haydn or Hummel, the trumpet really showed. Neither are any easier to play than the other - much just depends on the mouthpiece you use that really colors the notes produced. You don't bend and gliss notes with an Eb as you do with the Bb. The goal is to have a singing birdlike sound and not a New Orleans Jazz rip.

[@ertatta]

Trent, i’ve been recently asked to take over the soprano chair in a local brass band here in Texas. Over the past five years, I have subbed into the group with my E flat trumpet they needed someone to come in and add some sizzle and sparkle for a couple of their big high profile concerts. The band has committed to purchasing a Schilke or Stomvi soprano for me to use, so I’m wondering what mouthpiece to employ. I normally like a 7C for Eb trumpet although I play 1.5B for Bb & C trpt. Any advice would be much appreciated when it comes to mouthpieces.

[@aycc-nbh7289]

No offense, but does one play notes or instruments that are such high in pitch with large lips? I probably have slightly bigger lips than yours and I can barely hit a high G on a Bb trumpet if I’m lucky, but I’m told I have a better upper range on the tuba than most tubists.

[@andre7089]

Airspeed control id assume

[@justicenugent5388]

Is the French Horn in brass bands?

[@alypaly15]

Justice Nugent no, we use tenor horns

[@Walnutinthelake]

Is the Eb corner like a piccolo trumpet?

[@TrentHamilton]

Not really. There are some similarities but essentially they're two very different instruments.

[@cyborgjonny]

+I play trumpet no it's a soprano cornet

[@EnglishTMTB]

The approach (as a player) is similar in some ways, but the instruments themselves are very, very different.

[@Caesar233996]

Hey Trent, what’s your preferred instrument to play in a brass band? I’m on 2nd Bb Trom but I’d love to play percussion or sop

[@thegingergamer476]

Your a Trombone player I think percussion would be a better options

[@samjacobson5734]

Does anyone have a link for "Where I Survey" that was used in this video. I can't find it anywhere. Thank you. ☺

[@TrentHamilton]

It's from the International Staff Band of The Salvation Army, their album "Supremacy" www.theisb.com/content/supremacy

[@lalalalelele1189]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5eQqWuNfLqSi7s

[@Xyos2]

So... I'm an 18 year old Musician trying to learn more instruments than just the Trumpet. Are there any suppliers that sell beginning instruments for fairly cheap? I would like some quality, so, obviously, I'm alright with over a hundred US dollars. It'll just take some saving. Lots of saving.

[@nwebster84]

While I've never played them, I've heard good thing about Wessex Tubas (don't worry, they make other instruments). Chinese-made, high quality (not necessarily a contradiction). I may get their compensating euphonium once I get some money (US$1,250) They have several "student model" instruments for a pretty reasonable price, relatively speaking. www.wessex-tubas.com/product-category/student-instruments/ Trent, any thoughts?

[@Xyos2]

Hey, thanks for the reply! I'll be looking into this.

[@thomaskissell5975]

What do you think of the Schilke soprano cornet if you've played one?

[@EnglishTMTB]

They're good - the standard for a long time, but there are several better available these days (Eclipse, Blackburn, Stomvi). To be perfectly honest, the main problem with the Schilke is price - second-hand values tend to be far too high (even in not great condition) and brand new they're one of the most expensive too.

[@evan12697]

Thomas Kissell kanstul sops are wow good too

[@EnglishTMTB]

Interesting, I found the Kanstul playable but not all that special - a bit like the Yamaha Xeno/Neo, gets the job done but just missing something compared to the very best. Still, these things wouldn't sell (and wouldn't be available as a consequence) if there weren't people that liked them.

[@thomaskissell5975]

I like the schilke sop that I play. It's the better of the two available

[@amandanectar]

Theyre fantastic. Ive just bought myself a new schilke with the beryllium bell. Coupled with the right mouthpiece it knocks the socks off trents courtois, hands down.....i love it and well worth the money

[@ryanatour]

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the Bb cornet a soprano voice?

[@TrentHamilton]

Yes, the Bb cornet is a soprano voice, but brass bands don't limit themselves to soprano, alto, tenor, bass. There's much more colour and parts involved.

[@ryanatour]

Trent Hamilton So rather, for this example, instead of the soprano playing the main melody and the bass play the roots of the chords and things like that, all the voices flow together? For example, the alto might play a couple of bars of the melody, but then the soprano would take it from there; however, it would all blend dynamically and harmonically.

[@TrentHamilton]

There is no permanent structure within brass bands. Sometimes the 'soprano' instruments have the melody, sometimes it's passed to the alto or tenor or bass sections. Each individual instrument provides a different tonal pallet, and composers utilise those individual characteristics to achieve different musical results. SATB is not really applicable to brass bands,

[@ryanatour]

Trent Hamilton Thank you for explaining. I hope all is well with you and your family.

[@filiphauangundersen3228]

The basses are basses, the baritonehorns are baritones, the tenorhorns are tenors, the Eb sopranocornet is a soprano. What do we miss? The altos and mezzo sopranos, and that would be the flugelhorn and Bb cornets because they are between the tenor and sopranos. Sorry cornet/trumpet/flugelhorn players but that is the most legit answer.

[@Alexfernandeztpt]

Why do not you draw your trumpets?

[@billygarvey633]

Alex Fernandez Ponce huh?

[@Mitrachbaer]

Dear Trent, I have found a weird bug concerning your videos. Sometimes they do not load when using the safari browser, especially when they are recently uploaded. I always have to change my browser to watch your fantastic videos. Not the biggest problem, but strange though

[@billygarvey633]

Christian M that's certainly not his fault, and there's nothing he could do about it. You'd have to complain to KZbin to fix that

[@Momsemann]

Did you record/make the intro yourselves?

[@TrentHamilton]

Yes. It's an extract from Gigout's Grand Choeur Dialogue.

[@alypaly15]

if you can, listen to Steve Stewart. imo best sop player in the world

[@Survivalcentral97]

Al Pal he’s good but sounds abit trumpety for my liking

[@wilderoos9618]

For the real sound of the cornet: Petter Roberts is my favorite.

[@MichaelSidneyTimpson]

Wouldn't Eb be called sopranino?

[@filiphauangundersen3228]

Michael Timpson Baritone-horn: Bb Tenor-horn: Eb Cornet/flugelhorn: Bb Soprano Cornet: Eb Cornet isn’t named alto cornet but the remaining voice type is alto so cornet is an alto instrument. The range of alto singers and cornets are very similar so it kinda makes sense.

[@PrinceSwaggy]

E Flat instruments are the best.

[@clayton3590]

* says the bari sax *

[@borthers1]

Hi Trent...really enjoyed learning about this cornet.I am a B flat trumpet player ...How difficult would it be to play this Eb cornet? Are the fingerings the same...Do you read music from treble clef in the same way? Hayden, Maths teacher from UK ( & amateur player)

[@TrentHamilton]

It’s a little more difficult as it is pitched higher, but the fingering is the same.

[@mbadley658]

You play in the treble clef with no differences in your fingerings - however, just as with the picc, the notes you 'see' on the staff are much higher in actual pitch. Your part will have one less flat than the Bb part does when you see it on the score. You could transpose a Bb part on the fly, but wouldn't be easy. For example, a C on the Bb is a lower G for the Eb. As for being any easier in the high range, it is not - however it's easier to play 'in tune' as Trent mentioned. I don't like switching back and forth between Eb and Bb - and NEVER in one sitting. Your chops and ears get accustomed to the Eb pitches and support needed, which will be overblowing the Bb. I do, however, feel like it's a vacation when I pick up the Bb after long hauls with the Eb.

[@i.dig.ducks02]

Toot toot

[@anthonybarrington2562]

Lucky.... Courtois doesn't make these instruments any more. Have fun with it!

[@willemvankooi6892]

Dat klinkt echt niet.....

[@lilmeg7264]

'

[@robcat2075]

Ayvrrything is noyce about it.

[@ES_ETP]

I was the best trumpet at my band camp

[@profightcompilations4764]

Nuclear Troll glad you shared that with us

[@james_subosits]

ThePoisonChocolate He's got the ego of a trumpet player, for sure

[@billygarvey633]

Nuclear Troll Want a cookie?

[@gavinhardison742]

you want a medal?

[@camoshorts9190]

I️ love how people are being a dick to him XD

[@logangillotte8778]

so basically what you're saying is it's a less useful picc. trumpet

[@TrentHamilton]

Absolutely not. Did you watch this video??

[@logangillotte8778]

Trent Hamilton 😂😂I was totally joking, I'm in a brass band with 2 soprano cornets and they're invaluable

[@brankodjustibek1039]

first.

[@canadianbacon2711]

Saying "first" will not make your mum love you any more. -Trent It's also not cool if you are CLEARLY not first!