Warning: This étude is HARD.

Florestan, the 6th movement from Robert Schumann’s famous (and EPIC) piano work, Carnaval, is not the first piece you might want to make into a trumpet étude, but after recording it with Canadian Brass on this album here, I couldn’t help but play as many of the parts as possible, trying to fill in as many of the moving lines I could. This evolved into the etude below–definitely one of the most difficult I’ve ever arranged.

If you think you might want to take a crack at it, I’m practically giving it away (you can download it for just $3).

I’m also hosting a contest to see who (if anyone) can make musical sense of it.  Enter to win by recording a video and posting it anywhere on the internet.  Just be sure to use the humble hashtag #BestEtudeEver so I can find it.

The prize is negotiable (i.e. it’s up to the winner!) but will be cool, I promise.

Some trumpet tips:

• Keep it easy.  This étude is all over the map; play nice and light or risk ruining your chops forever (hehe, dramatic, I know)

• Focus on the contrasting musical styles–tyhey change quiet frequently and sporadically.  Listen to a sample of Canadian Brass’ version below.

• Good luck!

-Chris

PS You might also like Coquette, another difficult etude from Carnaval.