Although trumpeters speak frequently of the "French school" of playing, few are aware that the etude book considered the epitome of the French School, Théo Charlier's Trente-six Études Transcendantes was written by a Belgian. In spite of the adoption of the Charlier etudes into college curriculula across much of the world, the body of work created for the examinations at Charlier's institution, the Liège Conservatory, remains largely ignored. Although neglected, upon examination these works display both pedagogical and artistic merit. Because of the mixture of compositions by Francophone and Flemish composers, this repertoire is unusually diverse and challenging.

This document conducts an analysis of eighteen solos by Belgian composers for trumpet with piano accompaniment used in the annual concours of the Conservatoire Royal de musique de Liège from 1889 to 1959. Analyses will consider musical factors such as rhythmic and harmonic devices employed as well as issues unique to the development of trumpet technique. This document aims to draw attention to this varied and challenging body of literature which has heretofore been neglected in both performance and pedagogy.