Expert: Marbeth - 7/12/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello!  Playing over and over again in my head, I've got snippets of a classical music piece featuring a beautiful trumpet duet.  Problem is I do not know the composer or title of the piece, only the tune.  I can tell you that it is NOT the recognizable piece often played at weddings (Purcell trumpet voluntary), but it is a piece of music that you hear from time to time on classical radio, for example.  

I'd be happy to do the legwork to seek out this piece, if somebody could point me in the direction of some logical possibilities.  I'm not sure even where to begin, given that I only know the melody, instruments, and nothing else.  Can you help?  Thank you!

ANSWER: Try these composers of trumpet duets:

Haydn

Mozart

Hummel (a strong guess here as to composer)

Bach (could be a transcription, such as from BWV 1052)

Marais ("Rondeau Fanfare" - strong guess here, too; it's the famous "Masterpiece Theater" opening music)

Handel (something from "Royal Fireworks" or "Watermusic" - strong guess here, too)

Give these a shot!  

See if you can find a clip; maybe from some of the above composers.  Amazon or someplace like that may have it if you use search terms such as "trumpet duet" and composer name + "trumpet duet".  The title should be there by the clip.  If you can find a clip but there's no title by it, send me the URL and we'll give it another shot!


mb

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for your reply. I've obviously got some searching to do, but perhaps your list can narrow down my choices.  Let me add the following information to my original question.  I tapped out the main theme on my son's electric piano, and he told me that the notes are as follows (I don't even know if sending you this info. can help, but figured it couldn't hurt!):

G - E - C (quarter note/quarter note/dotted quarter note),
C-D-E-F-G-E (all eighth notes),
C-D-E-F-G-E (all eighth notes),
A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B, G-A-G-A-G-A-G-A, F-G-F-G-F-G-F-G (16th notes, maybe),
E (dotted quarter note?)
etc, etc, etc,

Okay, that's the basic idea, if you can make any sense of that!  If not, then please politely refer me to your original answer and I'll be on my way.  Thanks again for your help!

Answer
excellent job of writing the music!

sorry that it is not ringing any bells with me right now but I'll [literally] "keep it in mind" and see what my subconscious comes up with!

Mozart would be my guess, based on melodic contours

start looking at Mozart, remembering that it is 75% possible the piece you seek is an arrangement, not an original composition for 2 trumpets

sorry I can't give you a specific answer; know you want one and wish I could give it!

if you do find this, I'd be obliged if you'd write back & tell me what it is. I'm curious!  mb