Doc was in Arkansas to perform the Hummel Trumpet Concerto in Eb with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Maestro David Itkin conducting.  He had never performed it before - "I've avoided playing that beast my whole career.  I thought it time to tackle it."

The Eb trumpet, on which he performed the Hummel, was borrowed. "I don't even own an Eb.", he said.

It had a French Besson (from Paris) bell, Besson (from England) valve cluster, and a Kanstul lead pipe. He used a Schilke 6 mouthpiece. The mouthpiece had a 26 backbore with a 24 hole (venturi).

He also described the Bb he brought along but, by that time, I was overwhelmed by the experience and I don't remember the specific components. It was put together by Byron Autry.  It was also an amalgamation of parts.

Something I had never before realized is Doc's appreciation for the professional trumpeter.   Doc had just been told that ASO's principal trumpet (and my friend, Richard Jorgensen) is to play the Hummel later this season.  "My hat's off to you guys.  You can play that monster much better than I'll ever be able to do it.  You're the real players - you symphony guys."  He demonstrated genuine deference to my friends Dick Jorgensen and Larry Jones, ASO's Principal and 2nd trumpeters.

(The date should be October 2001.) 

Then I told him of my web site and Dick Akright's (Doc's former Bel Canto partner) description of that cornet.

But Doc countered the story and corrected a mistake on my web site depicting his trumpets used that night.  It is not the 3 Star restored by Dick Akright.  Instead, Doc said the one used in Mississippi was purchased from Ren Schilke's estate.  Yes, THAT Schilke.  The Schilke factory restored the horn.  Of particular significance - it was Schilke's first instrument.  The one on which he learned to play.  What a story!

That day in 1970 is one which has been fondly recalled and retold several times, here for yet another time.  A senior in high school, I was a member of the Memphis Youth Symphony and a student of now late Richard Steff, the MSO principal trumpet and trumpet instructor at Memphis State.  Doc invited the Youth Symphony trumpet section back stage after the concert.

I remember seeing first Doc, sitting in a chair, and then his trumpet, sitting on the make-up counter by the mirror.  The mirror had lights across the top and down both sides.  Doc was on the other side of the room, facing the mirror and his trumpet.  The five of us had almost enough room to be comfortable.

We were all introduced.  The exact memory has long faded, but I remember Doc told a joke or two and made us all feel at ease.  He complimented us on our progress as trumpeters, noting that Mr. Steff had said how proud he was of us.

I asked if I could hold his trumpet.  He said "Sure - and, play it, too!"

The fingers of my left hand closed oh so carefully around the valve casing.  The first thing I noted was how HOT the horn was.  It had been several minutes since he had come off stage, but his horn was still warm.

It was a Getzen Eterna, Severinsen model.  I thought "Wow - he actually plays one of these!" 

"Do I wipe it out?  Would that be rude?  No one's ever told me what to do in this situation!", I was frantically thinking.

Making a command decision on the fly, I decided to leave the spit.  After all, it might be like an magic salve and improve my playing.

A tuning note 'C' was evoked.  Then a 2nd space, G, then another 'C'.  I pulled the horn away and looked, with disgust, at the horn's bell.

Again, this time with more authority - a 'G' scale.  Fast.  Crisp.  A few chromatic notes, G to C# and back, then a two octave 'D' scale.  Again, and with more of a look of terror and disgust, I looked at Doc's trumpet.

With genuine concern, Doc stood up and asked "What?  Is something wrong with my trumpet?"

My response - to which Doc melted with laughter - "Hell - I sound just like ME on this horn!"

Doc's spit doesn't help.

visitors since Monday, September 23, 2002