Jean-Baptiste Arban
Encyclopedia
Joseph Jean-Baptiste Laurent Arban (28 February 1825 – 9 April 1889) was a cornetist, conductor
, composer
, pedagogue and the first famed virtuoso of the cornet à piston
or valved cornet. He was influenced by Niccolò Paganini
's virtuosic technique on the violin
and successfully proved that the cornet
was a true solo instrument by developing virtuoso technique on the instrument.
Born in Lyon
, France
, he studied trumpet
with Francois Dauverné
at the Paris Conservatoire from 1841 to 1845. He was appointed professor of saxhorn
at the École Militaire
in 1857, and became professor of cornet at the Paris Conservatoire in 1869, where Merri Franquin
was among his students. He published his Grande méthode complète pour cornet à pistons et de saxhorn
in Paris in 1864. This method, which is often referred to as the "Trumpeter's Bible," is still studied by modern brass players. His variations on The Carnival of Venice remains one of the great showpieces for cornet soloists today.
Arban apparently made a phonograph cylinder
recording for the Edison Company
shortly before his death. In a newspaper from Finland, Helsinki's Hufvudstadsbladet, (no. 96, from 11.4.1890, page 2), Arban's recording is mentioned:
Among the phonograms a particular one must be mentioned: solo on cornet a piston, played by the famous French virtuoso monsieur Arban called “Fanfare d’Edison;”
Arban died in Paris on April 8, 1889.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, pedagogue and the first famed virtuoso of the cornet à piston
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
or valved cornet. He was influenced by Niccolò Paganini
Niccolò Paganini
Niccolò Paganini was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique...
's virtuosic technique on the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and successfully proved that the cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
was a true solo instrument by developing virtuoso technique on the instrument.
Born in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he studied trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
with Francois Dauverné
François Dauverné
François Georges Auguste Dauverné was a French trumpeter who in 1827 was the first to use the new F three valved trumpet in public performance...
at the Paris Conservatoire from 1841 to 1845. He was appointed professor of saxhorn
Saxhorn
The saxhorn is a valved brass instrument with a conical bore and deep cup-shaped mouthpiece. The sound has a characteristic mellow quality, and blends well with other brass.-The saxhorn family:...
at the École Militaire
École Militaire
The École Militaire is a vast complex of buildings housing various military training facilities located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, southeast of the Champ de Mars....
in 1857, and became professor of cornet at the Paris Conservatoire in 1869, where Merri Franquin
Merri Franquin
Merri Jean Baptiste Franquin was a French trumpeter, cornetist, and flugelhornist who was professor of trumpet at the Paris Conservatory from 1894 until 1925...
was among his students. He published his Grande méthode complète pour cornet à pistons et de saxhorn
Arban method
The Arban Method is a complete pedagogical method for students of trumpet, cornet, and other brass instruments. The original edition was published by Jean-Baptiste Arban in 1864 and it has never been out of print since. It contains hundreds of exercises, ranging enormously in difficulty...
in Paris in 1864. This method, which is often referred to as the "Trumpeter's Bible," is still studied by modern brass players. His variations on The Carnival of Venice remains one of the great showpieces for cornet soloists today.
Arban apparently made a phonograph cylinder
Phonograph cylinder
Phonograph cylinders were the earliest commercial medium for recording and reproducing sound. Commonly known simply as "records" in their era of greatest popularity , these cylinder shaped objects had an audio recording engraved on the outside surface which could be reproduced when the cylinder was...
recording for the Edison Company
Edison Records
Edison Records was one of the earliest record labels which pioneered recorded sound and was an important player in the early recording industry.- Early phonographs before commercial mass produced records :...
shortly before his death. In a newspaper from Finland, Helsinki's Hufvudstadsbladet, (no. 96, from 11.4.1890, page 2), Arban's recording is mentioned:
Among the phonograms a particular one must be mentioned: solo on cornet a piston, played by the famous French virtuoso monsieur Arban called “Fanfare d’Edison;”
Arban died in Paris on April 8, 1889.