Brass, Reeds, and Percussion: April 1, 2023

The Trumpets of Lyon are five wild, trumpet-playing party animals who met while attending music schools in Lyon, France. They moved from playing numerous classical concerts to performing musical comedy. The Trumpets of Lyon have given over 800 concerts and shows in Europe, Australia, Russia, and the United States. They perform works that have been specially written for the ensemble. When they perform, they only play trumpets and similar instruments. And it’s a little difficult to play the bass line of most compositions on a standard trumpet. So they use a bass trumpet. Yes, there is such a thing as a bass trumpet, which you will be able to hear in recordings aired on this episode.

Video showing details of bass trumpet.

1. Saber Dance
   Composer:  Aram Katchaturian (1903-1978)
   Performer:  Trompettes de Lyon
   Album:  Canard Laque (Peking Duck)
   
2. La Mer
   Composer:  Charles Trenet (1913-2001)
   Performer:  Trompettes de Lyon
   Album:  Canard Laque (Peking Duck)
    
   
3. Don Juan (1889)
   Composer:  Richard Strauss (1864-1949), arranged by Jose Schyns (1959- )
   Performer:  Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides
   Album:  Phoenix Ascending 
   
4. Golliwogg's Cakewalk (1908)
   Composer:  Claude Debussy (1862-1918), arranged by Jose Schyns
   Performer:  Ad Hoc Wind Orchestra
   Album:  Falcon of Egypt  
   
5. GriGri (1911, also spelled Gri-Gri)
   Composer:  Paul Lincke (1866-1946), arranged Wil van der Beek
   Performer:  National Police Band of Portugal
   Album:  Au Cirque  
   
6. Exortus
   Composer:  Lorenzo Della Fonte (1960- )
   Performer:  Civic Band of Soncino (Italy)
   Album:  Dynamic Band  
   
7. I'm a Little Blackbird (1924)
   Composer:  Grant Clarke (lyrics, 1891-1931), Arthur Johnston (music, 1898-1954), George Meyer (music, 1884-1959), & Roy Turk (lyrics, 1892-1934)
   Performer:  Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks with Margot Bingham
   Album:  Boardwalk Empire, Vol. 3
     
   
8. Down in Jungle Town (1908)
   Composer:  Edward Madden (lyrics, 1878-1952) & Theodore Morse (music, 1873-1924)
   Performer:  Vince Giordano (1952- ) & the Nighthawks
   Album:  Boardwalk Empire, Vol. 3
   Also see Fresh Air Interview of Vince Giordano