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Vassily Brandt

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Vassily Brandt
Birth nameKarl Wilhelm Brandt
Born1869
Coburg, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Died2 February 1923(1923-02-02) (aged 53–54)
Saratov, Saratov Oblast, Russia
GenresClassical
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, conductor, teacher
Instrument(s)Cornet, trumpet, piano
Years active1887-1923

Karl Wilhelm (Vasily Georgievich) Brandt (Willy Brandt) (1869 – 2 February 1923) was a German-Russian trumpeter, pedagogue, and composer. He is the founder of the Russian trumpet school.

Life

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Karl Wilhelm Brandt was born and educated in Coburg, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, now part of Germany. Between 1887 and 1890, he worked alternatively in the spa orchestra in Bad Oeynhausen and in Helsinki. He was active in the Helsinki Philharmonic Society, now the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, under Robert Kajanus.[1] In 1890, he changed his name to Vassily Georgyevich and moved to Moscow, Russia.[2]

The opening of the Saratov Conservatory in September 1912 drew Vassily Brandt to Saratov for the remainder of his life. He spoke Russian quite poorly, often relying on demonstration for musical instruction. He died on 2 February 1923, purportedly as the result of a vaccination.[1]

Career

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Vassily Brandt became principal trumpet of the Bolshoi Theatre in 1890 and became first cornet in 1903. He succeeded Theodor Richter (1826–1901) as the second ever trumpet professor of the Moscow Conservatory in 1900, and also taught band orchestration there.[3] In Moscow, he was part of the Russian Musical Society and toured as part of a brass quartet with members of the Bolshoi Theatre. He conducted for the Alexandrovsky Military College military band.

Brandt joined the faculty of the newly established Saratov Conservatory in 1912 as the first professor of trumpet.[3] His fellow brass quartet member Ivan Lipaev made a similar move. There, he managed and conducted the conservatory orchestra in addition to playing as the principal trumpet. He taught using the Arban method and his own compositions.

Influence

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Following the death of Brandt, Konstantin Listov composed Funeral Fanfare for his departed teacher. Brandt's 34 Orchestral Etudes (34 Studies for Trumpet) is an important study material for modern trumpet players. His Last Etudes (The Last Studies) serve a similar purpose. His two Concert Pieces (Konzertstücke Opp. 11–12) for trumpet and piano are also widely performed today. Country Pictures is a notable quartet for trumpets or horns from him. Several of his compositions and etude books are published by International Music Company.

Among his students are Pyotr Lyamin (1884–1968) who succeeded Brandt as a professor at the Saratov Conservatory; Pavel Klochkov (1884–1966) who was an early Russian recording artist; Vladimir Drucker (1898–1974) who was a principal trumpet with the Los Angeles Philharmonic; and Mikhail Tabakov (1877–1956) who became professor at the Moscow Conservatory.[2]

34 Studies for Trumpet
No. Tempo Marking Written Keys Meter Subdivision
1 Allegro alla marcia quarter note = 116 C major 2
4
Sixteenth note
2 Marziale quarter note = 124 B major common time Sixteenth note
3 Allegretto quarter note = 108 C major 3
4
Sixteenth note
4 Allegro ma non troppo quarter note = 100 C major common time Sixteenth note
5 Allegro quarter note = 126 F major 3
4
Sixteenth note
6 Tempo di Valse dotted half note. = 60 F major 3
4
Eighth note
7 Moderato quarter note = 116 C minor 5
4
Sixteenth note
8 Allegro moderato quarter note = 120 E major common time Sixteenth note
9 quarter note = 116 A minor 7
4
Sixteenth note
10 Tempo di Valse dotted half note. = 72 F major 3
4
Eighth note
11 Maestoso quarter note = 84 C major 3
4
Thirty-second note
12 A la Polacca quarter note = 72 G major 3
4
Thirty-second note
13 Marziale quarter note = 120 E minor common time Sixteenth note
14 Maestoso quarter note = 108 C major common time Thirty-second note and Eighth note triplet
15 Scherzando quarter note = 76 A major 3
8
Sixteenth note
16 Allegro grazioso quarter note = 78 C minor 3
8
Sixteenth note
17 Scherzando dotted quarter note. = 126 F major 6
8
Eighth note
18 Allegro quarter note = 116 F major 6
8
Eighth note
19 Allegro à la chasse dotted quarter note. = 112 E major 6
8
Sixteenth note
20 Allegro dotted quarter note. = 132 D minor 6
8
Sixteenth note
21 Allegro grazioso dotted quarter note. = 112 F major 6
8
Sixteenth note
22 Allegro spiritoso dotted quarter note. = 120 F major and G minor 12
8
Sixteenth note
23 Animato alla Polacca dotted quarter note. = 96 G major 9
8
Sixteenth note
24 Moderato dotted quarter note. = 90 F major 6
8
Sixteenth note
25 Allegretto dotted quarter note. = 80 G major and C major 6
8
Sixteenth note
26 Presto quarter note = 136 E minor and F major 3
4
Sixteenth note
27 Vivo vivace (Presto) half note = 100 A minor 2
4
Sixteenth note and Eighth note triplet alternation
28 quarter note = 104 F major 2
4
Sixteenth note triplet
29 Adagio Cantabile quarter note = 66 C major and A major common time Quarter note and Eighth note triplet
30 Scherzando dotted quarter note. = 72 F major 3
8
Sixteenth note, Thirty-second note, and Eighth note quadruplet
31 Scherzo dotted quarter note. = 90 G minor 3
8
Sixteenth note
32 Allegro con moto quarter note = 96 F major and D major common time Sixteenth note
33 Moderato eighth note = 150 G minor 12
8
Sixteenth note
34 eighth note = 144 and Animato eighth note = 160 F major 6
8
Thirty-second note

References

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  1. ^ a b Tarr, Edward H. "Willy (Vassily Georgyevich) Brandt". Brandt Brass Ensemble. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b Walker, Brian (2019). The Thirty-Four Orchestral Etudes of Vassily Brandt (booklet). Hattiesburg, MS: International Trumpet Guild. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b Akhmadullin, Iskander (May 2003). "Historical Perspective". The Russian Trumpet Sonata: A Study of Selected Representative Sonatas for Trumpet and Piano with a Historical Overview of the Russian Trumpet School Together with Three Recitals of Selected Works by Viviani, Chaynes, Böhme, and Others (PDF) (DMA). University of North Texas. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
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