Modern rotary valve trumpets are still widely used today in Germany and Austrian orchestras in place of the piston valve instruments more commonly used in France and the United States. While rotary valve trumpets are not strictly speaking historical but rather contemporary brass instruments, American trumpet players have in recent years increasingly been using these instruments for all of the Austro-German classical and romantic repertoire from Mozart and Haydn to Bruckner and Mahler, often at the insistence of European-born and trained conductors who prefer the tonal qualities of these trumpets. While the use of rotary valve instruments is certainly not historically accurate for the classical and early romantic natural trumpet orchestral literature, many conductors and players seem to feel that the tapered attack and warmer tone quality of these instruments is better suited to the modern performance of natural trumpet parts than the more brilliant and incisive piston valve instrument. There is no question, however, that the rotary valve trumpet is the stylistically appropriate and historically authentic instrument for the late 19th and early 20th century Germanic repertory. Recordings and American tours by leading European ensembles such as the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras have clearly demonstrated the superiority of these instruments for that literature.

Response and Tone Quality

American players, accustomed to the rapid and accurate response of the piston valve trumpets on which they have built their technique, frequently have difficulties when first performing on rotary valve instruments. The "feel" is quite different, and the response and tonal properties require some adjustment of one's playing technique and style. 

Key: Bb Rotary Trumpet 
Bore: 11mm
Bell: 129mm Yellow brass
Tuning pipe: Cupronickel (outer&inner)
Piston: Yellow brass
leadpipe: Cupronickel
Finish: Lacquer