This is a copy of the mid-eighteenth-century English natural trumpet by Winkings in collaboration with Basel natural trumpet specialist Julian Zimmermann; the instrument was recommended to us by Jean-François Madeuf. It is particularly intended for English repertoire of the high Baroque, but also serves well as a general-purpose Baroque natural trumpet.
Only handmade tubing is available on my natural trumpets. Not only is the standard seamless tubing available far too heavy, but the perfectly smooth inner wall all but eliminates the flexibility required to bring F, F# and A into tune, and robs the instrument of character and finesse.
Yards are available in 0.3mm (my preference) for delicate response and flexibility, or in 0.4mm brass for greater projection; the bows are in 0.5mm for stability and projection. Bells are available in 0.3 or 0.4, or at added cost in 0.6 with extensive thinning by hammering to 0.35mm as seen on the original.
The trumpet is wrapped as was typical for English trumpets, with the bell bow nearly parallel below the bell, and the mouthpiece yard passing through a cutout in the ball for added stability.
Our first copy was in 0.4mm brass, with elaborate repoussé decoration on the bell garland, ornate burnished garnishes and an elaborately spun triple ball, all copied as closely as possible from the original. The sound of the resulting instrument is typically English: clear, flexible and luminous, with great dynamic flexibility; its character compared to a German instrument of similar dimensions was less martial and more intimate, and is well suited to chamber music.
Specifications: bore: 10.4-10.7mm, bell 114.5mm. Built to original proportions the trumpet is in E at ca. A=400 (English pitch) but can easily be adjusted either to E or Eb at A=415 if desired. Additional crooks can be provided for any pitches desired.
This beautifully-made English trumpet is now held in the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, catalog number 3282. Unusually for Baroque trumpets, the bell and both yards are nearly on the same plane at the distal end, though this may be a result of a later shortening of the proximal bow. The instrument is in plain brass, but richly decorated, with a typically English triple ball, spun ferrules and elaborate repoussé work on the bell garland.
Jean-François Madeuf spoke very highly of this instrument, having played it once in Edinburgh. Our gratitude goes out to him for the suggestion, to Raymond Parks, who made the drawing of the original in 2000, and to Dr. Arnold Myers, who provided us with additional measurements, clarification of construction questions, and photographs.
Further information and videos of Crispian Steele-Perkins playing the original can be found at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments.
Natural trumpet in E at A=400 after Nicholas Winkings, London, mid-18th century. Bells in 0.3mm brass (my preference) for delicate response and flexibility, in 0.4mm for greater projection, or in more extensively worked 0.6mm. One tuning bit for D at A=440 is included.
Please contact me directly for price and ordering information.
