Kopprasch Studies for Alto Trombone

Informatie

The Op.5 and 6 studies for horn were written by German horn-player Georg Kopprasch and printed in the early 1830s and although unspecified, were probably conceived for the valve horn. Until now students have depended on the 1880 edition of Kopprasch's studies made by Friedrich Gumpert (1841-1906) while he was principal horn of the Leipzig Gewandhausorchester. They were still horn studies and only fifty years old. Crooks rather than valves were still regarded as the primary means of changing key and Gumpert's edition still sticks close to C.

With their emphasis on scalic passages, arpeggios and melodies, they have proven to be popular and transcribed for other brass. However, we considered that whilst they are helpful for negotiating the whole range of the instrument, their lack of articulations and dynamics, as well as style and speed indications, in other words the building blocks of musicianship, have made their use seem somewhat limited.

In this edition, the music has been carefully edited with all of the above, so that the musical approach is as important as the technical. The fact that many great composers wrote studies or études which are fine music as well as challenging pieces was indeed the inspiration.

We trust that students will relish the musical detail and prepare the studies carefully. If this is done diligently, it is hoped that the wide variety of expression and technique contained in this volume will overflow into all other areas of playing.