‘Just’ Natural Trumpet Masterclass - Royal Northern College of Music

18 November 2024, 18:00

I was invited by Murray Greig, Head of Brass at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, to lead trumpet class and introduce my book, ‘Just’ Natural Trumpet, to the college’s trumpet players on Monday 18 November 2024. This was a wonderful ‘full circle’ moment for me, as I first began playing the natural trumpet 18 years ago after attending a similar masterclass at the RNCM, given by David Staff. I explained to the students that attending that class had certainly changed my life and I noted that it is possible to pursue a career in this subject area.

I was invited to give this class to all of the RNCM’s undergraduate and postgraduate trumpet students. An impressive number (20 or so) were in attendance, with several bringing their own or college instruments with them. I provided a further 12 natural trumpets and a class set of books which meant that everyone had a natural trumpet to play and a copy of the book to read from. I had to borrow a percussion trolley to get everything in and out of the studio!

The class began with a brief discussion about the book and its main themes. I placed key works from the history of the trumpet in a ‘floor timeline’, as a very visible form of chronological literature review. I then handed out instruments one by one, and we discussed where the instruments themselves should fall into the timeline, both on face value (e.g. 1746) and also based on their date of manufacture (e.g. 2008).

Following an explanation of some pertinent playing techniques, we started by playing pieces by Heinrich Lübeck, Claudio Monteverdi, Cesare Bendinelli, and Michael Altenburg from the beginning of the book before skipping on to explore music by C. P. E. Bach. The ever-present floor timeline was a useful aid as we progressed through the repertoire, and as we discussed and contextualised more modern repertoire and treatises for the trumpet.

After the class I took two groups of three students (fourth years and postgraduates) for more advanced and focused classes. We played and studied music by Antonio Bertali, Heinrich Schmelzer, and Johann Christoph Bach, and the students asked inquisitive questions.

The invitation to take this class came about when I visited the RNCM in June, as one of four players from the Academy of Ancient Music, to rehearse and perform Bach and Mozart in a side-by-side project with the RNCM Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Choir. It was great to be back. As ever, I am deeply impressed with the RNCM and its community: I was welcomed back very warmly indeed and the alumni department even came to take photographs of the class as it progressed (I hope to be able to share these photos in the coming months). It was a pleasure to work with these committed students. Thanks to Murray for the invitation and well done in particular to those who students who played the natural trumpet for the first time in this class. From tiny acorns mighty oaks grow! (In fact, it was brilliant to see that one of the then school-aged students I mentored as part of the Future Talent scheme in 2020 is now a fully fledged member of the department).

On my way up to Manchester, I had breakfast (opposite a famous now-retired footballer) in Mobberley near Knutsford and, fortunately, I managed to avoid the worst of the snow on the way back home! While I was at the RNCM it was great to be able to visit the RNCM Museum of Instruments to admire one of the natural trumpets made by Grinwolt (Grünwald) in Munich between c.1725–1750 (the other is in a display case in one of the college’s concert halls), which I played several times while I was a student at the RNCM.

Russell Gilmour

writing on music, photography, engraving, travel and life as a freelance professional musician.

Russell Gilmour's innovative new book, 'Just' Natural Trumpet, is now available: please click here for more information.