Beware of Modern Oracles Trumpet Trio [3 Trumpets]

Description

Beware of Modern Oracles

Trumpet Trio
by Eddie Lewis

Beware of Modern Oracles is an experimental trumpet trio utilizing a composition technique that I invented for brass quintet in the 90’s. I originally believed that it would not work well for smaller instrumentations, but with Covid 19 giving us so much time to think and experiment, I decided to prove myself wrong. Beware of Modern Oracles is evidence that I was wrong.

The composition does not sound as modern and unique as it is. Rhythmically is is very traditional. The only thing truly original here are the harmonies.

My Use of “Experimental”

The word “experimental” can mean different things to different people in a musical context. For me, I use this word to differentiate these compositions from the majority of my other works. Most of my compositions begin as musical ideas. What typically happens is that I hear a melody in my mind, write it down, then develop that melody into a completed composition.

My experimental pieces did not begin as musical ideas. Instead, they began as intellectual ideas. My mind asks “what if I tried this or that?” When I write this way, it’s possible that a melody won’t even form until hours into the work.

This is very, very different from how I typically compose today.

If you’d like to listen to more of these experimental compositions, I have a playlist of them that you can access by clicking HERE: Experimental Trumpet Compositions Playlist.

Skill Level

The skill level for Beware of Modern Oracles is on the high side of intermediate. I must clarify however that it is not something that can be sight read by intermediate trumpet players. The piece is 100% within the intermediate skill level, but there are some awkward fingerings that require practice. The awkward fingerings are a direct result of the composition technique used to write the music.

In our seven skill level system, Beware of Modern Oracles is at the fourth level. This level is called the Trumpet Apprentice Level. In this skill level, the trumpet students are playing notes up to the B flat above the staff. They are playing in all keys and most time signatures.

Beware of Modern Oracles also has some awkward intervals that will require some practice to gain accuracy.

Free Play-Along Video

We have a free play-along video for Beware of Modern Oracles that gives you an opportunity to take the first trumpet part for a test drive. The You Play First Chair series is designed to give trumpet players of all skill levels free sight reading materials, but it also works very well as a way for you to play the music before you choose to purchase it. To go to the play-along video please click on the following button:

To access all of my You Play First Chair trumpet play along videos you can visit my other website at EddieLewis.com.

Score Video

Here is a score video of Beware of Modern Oracles. Maybe you can see the composition technique used to create this piece.