Document Type
Other
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
The sound of a trumpet can be used in a variety of applications. This is due to its ability to adjust its timbre to fit different situations. Among the most common adjectives applied to brass instruments, especially trumpets, are terms associated with bright, metallic, or brassy qualities (Wallmark 587-588). While these are timbral qualities of the trumpet, they are not the only ones of which the trumpet is capable. According to ACTOR Research, the following timbres of the trumpet have been extracted from various orchestration treatises – agile, blaring, brassy, bright, brilliant, crisp, flexible, piercing, powerful, responsive, sharp, smooth, and strong (ACTOR Research). A musician can adjust the timbre of the trumpet by manipulating air speed, direction, and tension in the embouchure. Additionally, the timbre of the trumpet can be adjusted by the addition of a mute. A mute is an external device inserted into the bell of a trumpet designed to change the sound of the instrument.
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Rights
Copyright © 2026 Caroline Reyner
Recommended Citation
Reyner, Caroline, "Muted Trumpets as a Sonic Representation of Isolation or Solitude" (2026). Schultz-Werth Award Papers. 73.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/schultz-werth/73