Works for trumpet by Canadian prairie composers in publicly accessible non-archival holdings : toward establishing a repertoire database

Abstract

Trumpet repertoire listings currently available to the public are often unsuitable for music instructors as means of adequately selecting repertoire for their students. This thesis will first discuss shortcomings of current trumpet repertoire lists and how a new listing would better serve the purpose of selecting new and appropriate works. A repertoire database design is presented with its many features, both musical and bibliographical. Further, technical considerations and issues concerning the implementation of such a database are discussed.

Works for trumpet by Canadian Prairie composers was chosen as a body of repertoire to be cataloged in the database, as a means of presenting a prototype and therefore of limiting the number of initial database entries. Listing only works accessible in libraries and other public holdings warrants that pieces will be available for performance by the database users.

As the application of the proposed database to this specific body of repertoire demonstrates, the database will be helpful to trumpet instructors seeking repertoire for students, as well as professionals wishing to create varied programs for performances and recordings, which include Canadian Prairie trumpet repertoire.