PREPARATION FOR AUDITION VERSUS PERFORMANCE: AN EXAMINATION OF FOUR PROMINENT ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS FOR TRUMPET

Abstract

The purpose of this document is to examine the preparation for orchestral audition versus performance situations for four of the most commonly requested trumpet excerpts: Petrouchka by Igor Stravinsky; Symphony No. 5 by Gustav Mahler, Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi; and Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky/orchestrated by Maurice Ravel. This document shares knowledge obtained from a survey that included the input of five prominent orchestral trumpet players who are also educators: Ryan Anthony, Tom Booth, Steve Hendrickson, Boyde Hood and Michael Sachs. The document specifically provides the following information from each respondent: (1) key fundamentals of each excerpt, (2) recommended recording(s) of each work containing the excerpt, (3) the respondents’ choice of instrument for each excerpt (for both audition and performance situations), (4) the respondents’ ideas on imagery for each excerpt, and (5) any additional/other factors that respondents chose to include about each excerpt, or additional passages from the work as a whole from which the excerpt came. The exact words of the respondents themselves are included as an appendix in this document. Each excerpt is covered, in detail, by chapter. This document is intended to serve as a resource for those who wish to research, study, and understand preparation of and differences between orchestral audition and performance situations.