[Tradjazz] Cornet vs. Trumpet

[Steve Barbone]

"bill" <sylvia1 at ptd.net> asked:

> Hey Folks,
> 
> I'm a newbie just trying gather some answers concerning the
> differences/nuances between these two instruments... Alright, I know that one
> is conical and the other is tubular... learned that from listening to OKOM and
> handy info  if I go on Jeopardy.   But the sound....  Does it only depend on
> the musician?   Does the instrument truly create a difference??? I'd just like
> some ramblings and opinions on  this subject.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Bill G


Hey Bill:

Below is what "Brass Quest" says about the two. (Brass Band oriented)

Description:

The CORNET is a close relative of the trumpet. The standard cornet in brass
bands is the Bb cornet. The instrument's pitch range is that same as that of
the trumpet. The cornet is the most numerous instrument in the brass band,
with about a third of the players playing cornets. A full brass band also
includes the soprano cornet, a smaller version of the instrument which is
pitched in Eb. 

Physical Description

The cornet is the smallest instrument used in the brass band. The main tube
has a conical bore, gradually tapering from the leadpipe to the bell.
Virtually all cornets have three valves of the piston type. The instrument
is equipped with rings or levers on the third and (sometimes) on the first
valve slide. These are used to compensate for intonation problems that are
inherent in any brass instrument design.

When played, the cornet is held straight out from the lips, with the valves
vertical or slightly inclined to the player's right. The right hand is used
to manipulate the valves, and the left hand supports the instrument. If the
cornet is equipped with compensation mechanisms, they are usually operated
with the left hand.

Tone Color

The tone of the cornet is midway in color between the bright sound of a
trumpet and the dark, complex tone of the flügelhorn. The relatively short
air column gives the cornet agility and responsiveness.

Brass arrangers and composers sometimes modify the sound quality of the
cornet by specifying various kinds of mutes. The straight mute and cup mute
are the most common. More subtle changes in timbre can be achieved by
writing in high or low registers, varying the key, instructing the player to
play with the bell close to the stand, use of dynamics, or the presence or
absence of vibrato.

Role in the Brass Band

In a brass band, the cornet supplies the principal soprano voice. This
instrument occupies a position in the band similar to that of the violin in
a symphony orchestra. In small groups, the cornet is almost always the
principal melody instrument. However, even in small groups (such as a
sextet), there are usually at least two cornet parts, with the second part
supplying the alto voice.

In more complex arrangements, the cornet section is sometimes split into
three or four parts. The parts are often subdivided as divisi into two,
three or more voices. Because the cornet is the highest-pitched instrument
in the brass band, and because its tone is relatively bright, it is capable
of ³cutting through² and being heard even when the entire band is playing.
The agility and speed which can be achieved by a skilled cornet player also
make it a favored instrument for solo items, both with and without full band
accompaniment. 

Because of its small size and relatively low cost, the cornet is the
instrument most often used for beginner instruction.

Cornet vs. Trumpet

Physical

Although the length of the main tube is the same on both the cornet and the
trumpet, the arrangement of the tubing is different. The trumpet's tube is
straighter, with fewer curves and loops. This makes the instrument longer in
terms of the actual distance between the player's lips and the flare of the
bell. 

Not only does the cornet have a more complex tubing design, but the tube
itself is more tapered, with a conical bore instead of a cylindrical bore
for the bulk of its length. Although the diameter of the bell at the extreme
end of the flare is generally similar (this varies depending on the
manufacturer and model), the cornet's flare is more gradual.

Timbre

Both the tubing complexity and the degree of slope of the bore influence the
final sound of the instrument. When viewed with an oscilloscope or a similar
device, a trumpet tone is clearer (closer to a pure sine curve) than that of
a cornet. The trumpet sound is also easier to ³overblow², when the sound is
distorted into a harsh blast. A cornet, because the sound is more complex
and ³fuzzy², is less easy to overblow (although it is still possible). The
cornet's sound is more gentle and warm than that of the trumpet. Trumpet
players rarely employ vibrato, while that technique is frequently employed
by cornetists.