Jean-Baptiste Arban

This post is part of a series called Know This Brass Player which features famous brass players from all over the world.

Name: Jean-Baptiste Arban (1825-1889)

Instrument: Cornet

Location: France

Significance: Jean-Baptiste Arban was the first virtuosic cornetist, specifically with a piston-valved cornet. He likened his cornet ability to the talents of violinist Niccolo Paganini. Arban’s most notable solo is Carnival of Vernice, a flashy piece that truly shows off the capabilities of the instrument. He studied cornet at the Paris Conservatory from 1841 to 1845 with the famed teacher, Francois Dauverné. In 1869, Arban returned to his alum to become the Professor of Cornet, a position he held until 1874. He later returned to teach at the Conservatory in 1880 until his death in 1889.

Even though he was a great performer, his greatest contribution to the brass world was the Grande Méthode Complète pour Cornet à Pistons et de Saxhorn. Originally written in 1864, this method book has become the method book for trumpet players all over the world. Trumpet players such as Claude Gordon and Allen Vizzutti have edited and revised exercises while adding their own personal suggestions.  Due to its high popularity as a method book, many other musicians have modified this book to become a valuable resource for other brass instruments including a trombone edition by Joseph Alessi and Brian Bowman, as well as a tuba edition by Jerry Young and Wesley Jacobs.  

Lastly, Arban had an influence in developing the cornet as we know it today by working with the legendary Adolphe Sax, one of the primary developers in keyed instruments, specifically the saxhorn and the saxophone.

Sources consulted for research:
Jean-Baptiste Arban – Wikipedia
J.B. Arban – O.J.’s Trumpet Page