Thermal Whiplash for Trumpet Ensemble - Chris Evan Hass

My composition for trumpet ensemble 'Thermal Whiplash', recorded by the incredible Shenandoah University Trumpet Septet! These students performed the piece for the 2024 National Trumpet Competition and made the music sound so visceral and compelling that I was motivated to make some revisions and see if they would record it for me, which they graciously accepted and knocked out of the park!
This is version 2.0 of the piece, now which editions for seven trumpets or six trumpets. Either edition has piccolo in the first two parts and flugelhorn in the third.
Purchase the septet version through Murphy Music Press:
murphymusicpres...
Purchase the sextet version through Murphy Music Press:
murphymusicpre...
More information about the piece:
hassmusic.com/...
If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out my Trumpet Sonata for some equally chaotic and wild music!
• Sonata for Tomorrow (f...
Program Notes:
Thermal Whiplash was written for the Central Michigan University Trumpet Septet in 2019 for their performance at the 2020 National Trumpet Competition, which was unfortunately cancelled due to Covid-19 safety restrictions. The title is taken from a phrase CNN used to describe the drastic and unpredictable temperature changes that occurred throughout the Midwest in the early months of 2019. During these months, temperatures skyrocketed from frostbite-inducing subzero temperatures to much warmer spring-like temperatures, sometimes changing over 70 degrees in the span of two days.
The piece depicts this erratic phenomenon by alternating, often jarringly, between two dramatically different moods. The first mood is dark and maniacal with a ubiquitous use of dissonant harmonies and rapid double-tonguing to represent the biting cold of that winter. The second mood is patient and meditative, portraying newfound warmth through bright extended harmonies and rising modulations. Less and less time occurs between these contrasting moods until spring fully comes to light, resulting in a triumphant restatement of the latter section with the addition of bright piccolo trumpets playing ornamental material above this uplifting theme.
Shenandoah University Trumpet Ensemble (Professor Mary Bowden) - Sam White, Taylor Losey, Jaya Dickson, Vanessa Rivera, Mark Barr, Imer Ramirez, Alyson Zieg

[@cehass11]

A huge thank you to the Shenandoah University Trumpet Septet for this brilliant recording of 'Thermal Whiplash'!! You can find more information about the piece here: www.hassmusic.com/chamber/thermalwhiplash/

[@gerheartthefirst5195]

Hmm... now to convince 6 of my friends... thats the hard part.

[@timlittle6842]

If you show them this, they might not be friends very long...

[@gunnarkilborn3915]

No offense intended but all of you need to be good enough.

[@ColonialForbin]

I feel like this would fit perfectly into a dci show Edit: maybe like bloo 24, or bd 2017 when the high brass goes on trumpet. Or even maybe like crown 14 with the whole brass on trumpet/mello

[@cehass11]

Literally one of my bucket list goals.

[@croatiancowboy]

Came here to say the exact same thing but you beat me to it, it seems. This is BEGGING to have a drum corps arrangement!!

[@spidernh]

i literally found this while looking for source music for a marching band show im making (very possibly going to be the second movement)

[@cehass11]

@@spidernh That would be epic! Keep me in the loop and let me know if there's anything I can help with!

[@spidernh]

@@cehass11 will do! keep in mind that it's likely not going to be performed, as it's mostly just for me to have fun writing it.

[@M1dN4ght]

I am a high school freshman trumpet player, and I come back to this video periodically. I love it that much!

[@cehass11]

Really appreciate you listening!!

[@cvbrocks5975]

I hope your playing goes well! Remember to practice and play with the courage of a lion!

[@oisin7748]

If seraphs played trumpets with all of their different mouths at the same time I imagine this is what they would play, I love it

[@IgnisConsumens]

Puts the [sic] in whimsical. 💯

[@thePatchingSquad]

An absolute joy to listen to!

[@cehass11]

Thanks so much Jeremy! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JRROGERS2]

Wow. It's incredibly intense, beautiful, and extremely well developed... Great job to the ensemble, as well.

[@cehass11]

@@JRROGERS2 Thank you so much! Definitely very grateful to get to work with such an incredible ensemble!

[@Grandpa_Pootis]

247 bars (or measures in your case) of pure, wondrous, excitable brilliance! :D

[@Grandpa_Pootis]

to add something, I feel brass music of the previous centuries has been pretty (how do I put this nicely)... a bit mundane (especially for my instrument, tuba). To see something so excitable and power driven with elements of the sublime and tranquil is something us brass players love and wish to see added to our repertoire. Well done!

[@cehass11]

@@Grandpa_Pootis I appreciate it!! Yeah, I'm a trombone/euphonium player myself, so I understand your struggle with boring low brass parts. But I actually take a lot of inspiration from more recent brass composers like Ewazen, Plog, or Verhelst, so I don't fully agree with your statement about boring brass music in general, but I'm certainly glad you think this piece feels fresh and exciting!

[@calgarywino]

I really enjoyed this!

[@freebeerecords]

Great propulsive brass energy here! Well done!

[@cehass11]

Thanks so much! Good adjective!

[@BenSwithen]

Marvellous and astonishing!

[@josephvaughan6990]

Absolutely incredible

[@cehass11]

@@josephvaughan6990 Thanks!

[@InimicalWit]

Sounds great. Also reminds me of the quick chords John Williams uses in some of his Star Wars themes 💙

[@toucap]

Feeling influences from Triumph of Time and Angels in the Archiecture here. Great Stuff!

[@cehass11]

I hadn't heard Triumph of Time before, but loved checking it out! Definitely see the similarities with all the double tonguing/aggressive cornet playing. Love Angels in the Architecture too!

[@BenthovenMusic]

Underrated stuff here. 🔥

[@davidkendalliv7375]

I’m thoroughly pleasantly surprised

[@Resident_Poet]

Great stuff! well composed, & well played! thanks!

[@evanmisejka4062]

You should arrange this for a full orchestra brass section.

[@CalebC128]

This makes me wish I knew how to play the trumpet lol, this is such a cool ensemble!

[@cameroncomposes]

This is absolutely stunning work, man. I do have to say, I feel less bad for my octet players now. I’ll just show them your piece and say “hey I could’ve gone way more difficult with it” 😂

[@cehass11]

@@cameroncomposes Yeah I’ve been told I can be a bit of a bully in my pieces! 😂

[@andrewedwards4327]

Love this

[@hazzyh8905]

This is awesome! What would be really interesting if you were to ever have interest in doing it is fleshing this piece out into a full brass band/brass ensemble score. I think there's huge potential for that. That being said, it sounds great on the trumpets, and the musicians did a wonderful job on this recording. Thank you for this great piece

[@jakemf1]

I get lots of Rocky Point Holiday/ that is a great concert band piece

[@johnpcomposer]

Brilliant work and congratulations on this excellent recording.

[@cehass11]

Thanks so much! I feel very fortunate to get to work with great musicians!

[@schmeinstein]

great work

[@tajaldeenwahab4528]

Good afternoon, I recently sent you an email regarding permission to arrange this piece. Absolutely phenomenal work!

[@user-tanepar]

緊張感のある素晴らしい作品。素晴らしい演奏。

[@cehass11]

Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed the recording!

[@idkshrug]

Hot dang

[@telemachus53]

Sounds a bit like the M25 (London) in rush hour but it's great music. I like it.

[@tompw3141]

This is an awesome-sounding way to get seven trumpeters to hunt you down.

[@rachelblaquiere9134]

I love it! I would have to agree with other comments that the stemlets for simple rhythms is a touch distracting, though.

[@cehass11]

Appreciate your feedback!

[@goldenpooper4326]

when you were composing this piece did you have in mind 7 trumpets or did you add parts whenever you needed more? always wondered about that when i see trumpet ensemble works

[@cehass11]

Good question! This was commissioned by a university trumpet septet, so I knew the whole time I'd be using seven voices. Then it became a question of what auxiliary instruments could the musicians play, and how to make each part interesting throughout!

[@csatterley]

This would work well for the upper part of a UK style brass band.

[@ImJumber]

They did great job Even me a string player, feel the hurt throat

[@jbspencer77]

Kinda williams-esque. Nice

[@attiliocar1]

Very good. Knows how to use trumpets!

[@johnnywhite7694]

This would be in Star-wars for sure.

[@DFDalton1962]

Nice. I know next to nothing about playing the trumpet. One of the few things I thought I knew is that they can only play one note at a time. Can anyone explain how measures 246 and 247 for Tpt. 1 are played?

[@cehass11]

@@DFDalton1962 You’re mostly correct! The split notes in those measures are just options for the player if they don’t want to end on such a crazy note. However, search “trumpet multiphonics” and you’ll find some neat stuff!

[@judahonesimus]

Did this being performed by a Septet influence the choice of the meter 7/8 in any way?😅 Really brilliant!

[@cehass11]

I wish! 😂 No, I just can't help but write some 7/8 measures in all my pieces!

[@msewell763]

Where can I find the rest of the band recording?

[@cehass11]

Tajaldeen Wahab arranged part of this piece for his marching band show 'Escape to my Dreams', which you can find on his KZbin channel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jn7LoZqQhNGBpcksi=0y9VlQ4yY3kfQeM3

[@Tokkemon]

Why are you using stemlets everywhere for simple rhythms?

[@cehass11]

I toggle them on when I know I'm going to be using several meter changes and asymmetric time signatures so it's always clear where the beat is, but you're not the first person to inquire about them for this piece so maybe they're unnecessary in this context!

[@error9900]

Love the use of mutes

[@cehass11]

@@error9900 Wanted to get as many sounds out of 7 trumpets that I could!

[@AdamG1]

I don't play brass so not well versed in trumpet music. Is there some reason the 8th rests are notated the way they are? I've not seen beams used to connect a note to a rest. Is this a trumpet thing or something to help with counting? Seems like a really good idea since the space between notes is equally important to the notes being played.

[@cehass11]

@@AdamG1 Just an option when I was writing the piece, not trumpet-specific! I like using these beams over rests when using a lot of mixed meter so it’s always clear where the beat lies.

[@AdamG1]

@cehass11 Maybe suggest it to music engravers and other composers. I can think of at least a dozen songs I've played or sung over the last 40 years that would have been made much easier with something like that.

[@usmpiano]

@@AdamG1 I may be in the minority, but i absolutely despise this trend. I find the exact opposite - I lose track of where the beat is. I'd much rater look at the flags instead of the bars.

[@ConsKortrijk]

Who played in this recording?

[@cehass11]

@@ConsKortrijk The Shenandoah University Trumpet Septet!

[@shiko-hirosuki]

Sounds like an action scene from a movie