“A concise guide linking the history of trumpet to performance . . . includes information on band music, bugle calls, orchestral repertoire, and jazz.” —American Reference Books Annual Unlike the violin, which has flourished largely unchanged for close to four centuries, the trumpet has endured numerous changes in design and social status from the battlefield to the bandstand and ultimately to the concert hall. This colorful past is reflected in the arsenal of instruments a classical trumpeter employs during a performance, sometimes using no fewer than five in different keys and configurations to accurately reproduce music from the past. With the rise in historically inspired performances comes the necessity for trumpeters to know more about their instrument’s heritage, its repertoire, and different performance practices for old music on new and period-specific instruments. More than just a history of the trumpet, this essential reference book is a comprehensive guide for musicians who bring that musical history to life. “A compendium of trumpet history with short, fact-filled chapters. It will serve both amateur and professional musicians alike, and few could read this text without learning something. Fanfares and Finesse is a thorough sampling of trumpet topics, including something of interest for every trumpet player, brass enthusiast, or curious reader.” —Pan Pipes “Trumpet players in a wide variety of situations and at many levels will find a great deal of useful information, presented in a clear, engaging, reader-friendly way yet backed by solid research. While some topics are covered in more depth than others, Koehler’s breadth of vision and thoroughness are commendable . . . For all trumpeters and anyone who teaches them.” —Choice

The author relates how the Lord took him on a career path from a farm kid in Pennsylvania to an army colonel. At critical junctures, the author sought divine guidance and found that the Lord did exceedingly abundantly above all he could ask or think. A unique panoply of pathsmusic, military, ministry, and marriagecome together in ways that only God could design. At the conclusion of thirty-five years of military service, the author finds unspeakable joy in reflecting on the goodness and guidance of the Lord.

Leonard Bernstein was the quintessential American musician. Through his careers as conductor, pianist, teacher and television personality he became known across the US and the world, his flamboyance and theatricality making him a favourite with audiences, if not with critics. However, he is perhaps best remembered as a composer, particularly of the musical West Side Story, and for songs such as 'America', 'Tonight' and 'Somewhere'. Dr Helen Smith takes an in-depth look at all eight of Bernstein's musical theatre works, from the early On the Town written by the 26-year-old composer at the start of his career, to his second and last opera A Quiet Place in 1983; in between these two pieces he composed music for Trouble in Tahiti, Wonderful Town, Candide, West Side Story, Mass and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. These works are analysed and considered against a background of musical and social context, as well as looking at Bernstein's other orchestral, choral and chamber works. One important aspect examined is Bernstein's use of motifs in his theatre compositions, which takes them out of the realms of Broadway and into the sphere of symphonic writing. Smith provides an indispensable overview of the musical theatre works of an eclectic composer, and shows what it is that constitutes the Bernstein 'sound'.

The first in-depth study of the ceremonial and music performed at British royal and state funerals over the past 400 years.