Short bio Jean-Baptiste Arban
Full biography Jean-Baptiste Arban
Jean-Baptiste Arban was a French cornetist, conductor, composer, and pedagogue, born on 28 February 1825 in Lyon, France. He is recognized as the first famous virtuoso of the cornet and piston, and his compositions and pedagogical studies are still widely used and respected in music education today.
Arban began his career studying at the Paris Conservatory, where he won first prize in the solfège competition in 1841 and a first prize in cornet in 1845. After completing his studies, Arban became a soloist in various Parisian theaters and orchestras, including the prestigious Paris Opera.
In addition to his performing career, Arban was an influential pedagogue. He wrote one of the first books on cornet technique, "Méthode complète de cornet à piston et de saxhorn", which is still in print today and is widely used as a standard method book for cornet, trumpet, and other brass instruments. He also wrote "14 Characteristic Studies for Trombone" and several other pedagogical works for brass instruments.
As a composer, Arban wrote many works for solo cornet, including his famous variations on "The Carnival of Venice," which remains a standard work in the cornet repertoire. He also wrote several marches, waltzes, and other pieces for various ensembles.
Arban died on 8 April 1889 in Paris, leaving behind a legacy as a virtuoso cornet player, influential pedagogue, and respected composer. His contributions to music education and brass performance are still recognized and celebrated today.
Compositions featuring Jean-Baptiste Arban
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Variations on Themes from Verdi's "Rigoletto" | 8:56 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1868 |
| 2 | Variations on "Carnival of Venice," for trumpet | 7:20 min | Band Music | 1864 |
| 3 | Caprice et variations, for alto saxophone & piano | 6:38 min | Chamber Music | 1861 |
| 4 | Caprice et variations, for saxohone & piano | 7:00 min | Chamber Music | 1861 |
| 5 | Carnival of Venice, for cornet/trumpet & piano/band | 5:56 min | Band Music | 18?? |
| 6 | Variations on a Theme from Bellini's "Norma", for cornet & piano | 6:25 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 7 | Fantasy on themes from Il Trovatore | 8:32 min | - | |
| 8 | Fantasy on themes from La Forza del Destino for cornet & piano | 10:47 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 9 | Grand Solo de Cornet à Pistons, for cornet & piano | 8:09 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 10 | La Cenerentola, air varie sur un air de Rossini for cornet & piano | 7:53 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 11 | The Jean Baptiste Arban Memorial Quickstep | 5:22 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 12 | Variations on a favorite theme by C.M. von Weber, for cornet & piano | 6:03 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 13 | Variations on a song "Vois-tu neige qui brille" (The Beautiful Snow), for cornet & piano | 5:39 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 14 | Fantasy and Variations on "Actéon" for cornet & piano | 6:58 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 15 | Variations on Themes from Verdi's "La Traviata", for cornet & orchestra | 9:12 min | Concerto | - |
| 16 | Variations ona Tyrolean Song | 6:08 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 17 | Yankee Doodle, for cornet & wind ensemble | 4:48 min | Concerto | - |
| 18 | Fantasy on themes from Don Carlos for cornet & piano | 11:14 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 19 | Fantasy Brillante on themes from Sicilian Vespers | 8:50 min | - | |
| 20 | Air Varié on a Folk Song "The Little Swiss Boy", for cornet & piano | 7:33 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 21 | Fantasies (14) on Verdi Operas, for cornet & piano | 120:02 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 22 | Fantasie on themes from Rigoletto | 9:15 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 23 | Fantasie on Bizet's "Carmen," for cornet | 5:34 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 24 | Fantasie on Bellini's "Beatrice di Tenda," for cornet & piano | 5:59 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 25 | Fantasie Brillante, for cornet & ensemble | 7:57 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 26 | Fantasie | 7:42 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 27 | Fantaisie and Variations on a German Theme, for cornet & piano | 5:34 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 28 | Etude for cornet No. 13 | 1:29 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 29 | Etude characteristique No. 1 | 1:55 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 30 | Cavatina & Variations on themes from Nabucco | 7:08 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 31 | Caprice & Variations, for cornet & piano | 6:21 min | Chamber Music | - |
Albums featuring Jean-Baptiste Arban
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Arban, Cacciamani, Forestier, Rossari, Spiga, Verdi, Zanichelli, Michele Santi, Marco Arlotti – Trascrizioni D'opera(CD, Album) | 2017 | Tactus |
| 2 |  |
Arban, Angelo Cavallo, Michele Fontana – Fantasies On Verdi Operas(2×CD, Album) | 2017 | Dynamic (4) |
| 3 |  |
Quintette Magnifica / Arban | Bizet | Rossini – Fantaisie Brillante(CD, Album, Reissue) | 2017 | Indesens |
| 4 |  |
György Geiger, Altenburg, Spiegler, Pezel, Händel, Riccio, Vivaldi, Arban – György Geiger(LP, Album) | 1990 | Radioton |
| 5 |  |
Jean-Baptiste Arban by Eric Urfer & Guy Bovet – Le Cornet En Tutu(LP) | 1983 | Gallo (4) |
| 6 |  |
Herbert L. Clarke / Frank Simon (12) / J.B. Arban / Virgil Thomson / Carl Höhne, Gerard Schwarz, William Bolcom – Cornet Favorites(LP, Stereo) | - | Nonesuch |
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