User:Ovinus/Trumpet classification

Using this to organize my thoughts on trumpet classification among RS, and then what Wikipedia should say on the subject, and how articles should be organized.


 * "Trumpets are commonly available in the keys of B-flat, C, D, E-flat, F, G, and A, and they include both piccolo and bass trumpets. In addition, cornets, flugelhorns, rotary valve trumpets, and to some extent, mellophones are all considered to be part of the trumpet family."
 * Comments: I think it's quite strange to exclude rotary valve trumpets from the first group, but the rest of this makes sense to me.

Sarkissian, Tarr (2001): Probably the most sophisticated of the bunch. First discusses from a larger POV, distinguishing chromatic (most Western brass instruments) and natural trumpets (everything else).
 * Comments:

Bate, Philip (1978): The family of trumpets comprises "a considerable number of instruments of different sizes and pitch ... [W]e can distinguish two main groups: (a) the so-called 'natural' trumpets [with fixed tube length], and (b) those instruments whose tube length is instantly variable by means of some form of valve mechanism"
 * Comments: Similar to Sarkissian's system. Provides an excellent discussion in the following pages. Not great, however, in that it excludes pretty much anything non-Western. He later says "These features [cylindrical section, bell section, and detachable mouthpiece] together can be regarded as definitive of the true Trumpet, and the name should properly be reserved for those instruments only which show them." An interesting stance! He also lives a bit in the past, which makes sense given the book was published in... 1978? And it still uses the word "negroes"? I shall take his jazz-related writing with a grain of salt.

Koehler (2015): "1. A lip-vibrated instrument comprised of a tube of a given length and diameter that usually ends in a flared bell of some kind. 2. A brass instrument with predominantly cylindrical tubing, a mouthpiece, and a bell at the end."
 * Comments: As a dictionary of sorts, the book gives two "definitions" of concern. The first is the broadest definition, including tubas and whatever. The second is more restrictive, but includes natural trumpets, slide trumpets, ancient trumpets, etc.

Sources, ordered by date of publication: