Greta introduces the Soprano Cornet and plays us a short excerpt from Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter:
The Soprano Cornet, also known as the E♭ Cornet, is mostly found in traditional Brass Bands, where it plays the high notes and supports the more common B♭ Cornets. A Brass Band only has one Soprano Cornet but 9 standard B♭ Cornets. Playing the Soprano Cornet is a very specialised role, and not many players are able to play the high notes!
Treat yourself to a bonus extra by listening to Greta play the whole of Hegwig’s Theme:
Here Greta shows us the difference between the E♭ Soprano Cornet and the standard B♭ Cornet:
The Soprano Cornet is smaller and pitched higher than a standard Cornet. As Greta demonstrates, the same piece of music played on a Soprano Cornet sounds higher than on a standard Cornet.
To be a bit technical, a low note played with no valves pressed down (“open”) on a Soprano Cornet sounds the same as the note E♭ played on the piano (“Concert E♭”), whereas a low note played with no valves pressed down on a standard Cornet sounds the same as the higher B♭ on the piano (“Concert B♭”). But, when the note is written down as music, it’s a C for both instruments!
Why is it so complicated? Well, there a very good reason for it: a musician who reads music can easily switch between playing the two instruments, or any other brass instrument with valves.
When they see the note C written down, they know to play a low note with no valves pressed down, whatever the instrument. It’s up to the person writing the music to make sure the right sound comes out. Find out more about B♭ and E♭ transposing instruments.
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