Holton C Trumpets in the Symphony
We normally don't think of Holton trumpets being used in
major symphony orchestras, but there was a time that they
were among the most popular for this use. Used by
notable players such as Adolph Herseth, Ted Weis,
Edward Llewellyn, Gustave Heim and the original owners
of these two examples: Benjamin Klatzkin and Gerard
Schwarz. The earlier, made in 1938 belonged to Mr.
Klatzkin at the time that he played principal trumpet in the
San Fransisco Symphony Orchestra. This was after
occupying the principal chair in Los Angeles and New
York starting in 1912. This trumpet later belonged to a
student of Mr. Klatzkin's until I purchased it several years
ago and then passed it on to Boyde Hood, who has made a
speciality of collecting important player's trumpets. The
later of these two trumpets, built in 1947, was acquired by
Boyde several decades ago from Gerard Schwarz. Before
1962, Mr. Schwarz used this trumpet extensively in the
Los Angeles Philharmonic, especially for chamber pieces
and where German rotary valve trumpets are now used.
He also used it in for performances and recordings with
the Los Angeles Philharmonic Brass Ensemble, for
Hayden, Mozart, Schumann and Schubert. While not up
to what we expect from modern, very large C trumpets,
Boyde has enjoyed playing these in recitals and other more
intimate occasions.
These two trumpets appear to be the same basic model,
with bores measuring .458" and bells which at the time
would have been considered large for C trumpets. The
wider bell flare would result in a broader, darker tone
quality than the traditional French C trumpets.
Click on images for larger views.
major symphony orchestras, but there was a time that they
were among the most popular for this use. Used by
notable players such as Adolph Herseth, Ted Weis,
Edward Llewellyn, Gustave Heim and the original owners
of these two examples: Benjamin Klatzkin and Gerard
Schwarz. The earlier, made in 1938 belonged to Mr.
Klatzkin at the time that he played principal trumpet in the
San Fransisco Symphony Orchestra. This was after
occupying the principal chair in Los Angeles and New
York starting in 1912. This trumpet later belonged to a
student of Mr. Klatzkin's until I purchased it several years
ago and then passed it on to Boyde Hood, who has made a
speciality of collecting important player's trumpets. The
later of these two trumpets, built in 1947, was acquired by
Boyde several decades ago from Gerard Schwarz. Before
1962, Mr. Schwarz used this trumpet extensively in the
Los Angeles Philharmonic, especially for chamber pieces
and where German rotary valve trumpets are now used.
He also used it in for performances and recordings with
the Los Angeles Philharmonic Brass Ensemble, for
Hayden, Mozart, Schumann and Schubert. While not up
to what we expect from modern, very large C trumpets,
Boyde has enjoyed playing these in recitals and other more
intimate occasions.
These two trumpets appear to be the same basic model,
with bores measuring .458" and bells which at the time
would have been considered large for C trumpets. The
wider bell flare would result in a broader, darker tone
quality than the traditional French C trumpets.
Click on images for larger views.