Vasily Brandt

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

Karl Wilhelm Brandt was born and educated in Coburg, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, now part of Germany. Between 1887 and 1890, he worked alternately 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. In 1890, he changed his name to Vassily Georgyevich and moved to Moscow, Russia.

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.

Career

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. 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. 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

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.

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