Valve Trumpet in C 1870 - 1890

Editor: Here we have Leopold Uhlmann's "Valve Trumpet in C", made sometime between 1870 and 1890. What strikes me immediately is the sheer physicality of the brass and the way the valves interrupt what would otherwise be very smooth lines. It's a beautiful, functional object. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The materiality speaks volumes. The trumpet’s construction reveals a story of labor, from the mining and smelting of the brass to the meticulous handcrafting of each component. The photographic representation flattens it, but one can almost feel the weight and temperature of the metal, and how mass production impacts the individual artistic flourish of crafting a trumpet versus its standardized creation today. What musical trends did this instrument serve and where was it crafted? What's the context for its consumption? Editor: So, you're saying to understand it, we need to understand who was buying and using it, and how it was made? I hadn't thought of it that way. I was thinking more about the sound, you know, the music it makes. Curator: Sound is a consequence. I think it’s useful to understand the processes of construction and labor that are tied to a piece of technology like this. A handmade brass instrument tells a story distinct from one created through automation. The musical intention merges with, or is overridden by, the material capabilities of its making, impacting how that intention comes to the musician and how they might execute it. Editor: I see what you mean. So by looking closely at the materials and the construction, we can understand its value within the musical landscape of its time. That’s a very different way of thinking about it than I am used to. Curator: Precisely. Understanding the context of production deepens our understanding of the artifact itself. Editor: I learned a lot today! Thank you. Curator: My pleasure, it has given me a new appreciation to listen to how I listen to music and understand its sources.