I had the incredible priviledge of playing with him four times while in high school in the late 60s. NO ONE even today can come close to the clarity of his attack, especially his double tongue. He did practice 8 hours a day. He also could swim five lenghths of an olympic size swimming pool in one breath, breathing out a thin stream of air. And yes, he could circular breath and double tongue at the same time. What else do you want to know about Rafael Mendez.
Beautiful. His triple and double tonguing are like goblets of pure sound shooting out of his trumpet full and round you can almost catch them. I have never heard any trumpeter past or present with such an ability. Arguably the greatest trumpeter of all time.
I fondly remember Rafael Mendez visit to Blair, Nebraska High School to play with our band. It must have been 1957 or 1958. Great trumpeter and great showman to boot.
Rafael Mendez was scheduled to play with my high school band in our spring concert (1963). Unfortunately, just four days prior to the concert, he came down with the flu and had to cancel. We were heartbroken, (especially all of us trumpet players). That would have been the only time I could have heard the world's greatest trumpet virtuoso..... EVER!! Over the years, I managed to collect about ever album he recorded, even those in Spanish.
I love this piece and I love the fact that it isn't shoddy when played on a trumpet. Three cheers for Sarasate and anyone who plays it with the kind of love that you can feel emanating from Rafael Mendez.
It's hard to understand what's going on in someone's mind who decides to hit the dislike button... why? If you don't like a certain instrument or musical style, don't listen to it. If you are really a good trumpet player, and prefer other playing styles, that's ok, but why dislike this? Other than that... I'm running out of ideas why could anyone possibly dislike this. But in any case, thanks for uploading this, I definitely enjoy it! :)
freakin insane... he's in a so much different league then i am... the style, mixed with the expression, passion, sense and emotion like no one else i've heard before. circular breath and double tongue at the same time - what else do you WANT as a trumpet player^^ - if you played long enough to do it - the perfect tone and power come from itself^^
Most magnificent performance on the Trumpet! Mr. Mendez is a master musician without a doubt. I would put him at he level of this composition when hearing it played with a Violin.
There's real heart and soul in Mendez's playing - this is one of his best examples. Yes, there are modern players who are technically more proficient and modern recording methods are massively superior but I could listen to these recordings all day. Mendez will always be mentioned when talking about great trumpeters. All the more amazing if you've read his biography...
@npc I think listening to modern players such as Segei Nakaraiov (?spelling) or Hakan Hardenberger their playing is cleaner and more consistent and whilst much of this is down to modern recording techniques and the amount of retakes available live recordings available on this forum show that these players are able to turn it on every time. But i stand by my comments above that Mendez has so much style and soul it's very easy to forgive the odd blip in his playing. Having read his biography he had many problems that would have ended most players careers many times.
It's funny how the soprano brass players of his day (i.e. Robert Clarke, etc) mostly prefered the easier to play cornet but this guy prefered the trumpet. Definately one of the greatest if not the greatest of all time. Especially because back then the trumpets were inferior to those made today with all the different customizations and and engineering advances that they now use. My hats off to the owner of these videos for sharing them with us.
I wish I was alive his day so I could of heard his sound in person , rather than thru the ages of antiquted recording equipment , nonetheless Mr. Mendez's musicality and perfection comes thru ... I'm glad for media tho for peserving treasures like these
If Im not mistaken Mendez had an accident when he was in his late teens and lost his ability to play for a period of a year or so...he practiced even harder and as a result he developed multi lip placements...it was said he could play on every spot of his mouth. Thats what even more freakin amazing!
I watched him play two trumpets at one time during our honour band practices. He also taught us the path to deep breathing techniques. At one time, i counted 14 notes per second as well.
Jesus Christ! The best anyone coming after him could do would be to equal him, and that would be with great difficulty. No surpassing the all-time great Rafael.
I not only was able to listen to him personally but was able to shake his hand and hold his trumpet... I was in the 6th or 7th grade... he was in Pueblo, Colorado..... a highlight of my life --- unfortunately I did not have the dedication to the horn that he had .... outstanding horn player... Wow...... don't hear music like this these days.... did you do a google and read his biography... interesting.
Hilarious! I was one of the lucky ones as principal clarinetist in the university band where he visited and played a concert. I was also lucky enough to have been one of 5 or 6 (don't remember how many now) who were invited to lunch with him after rehearsal. He was a great story teller (among other stories, he told us about his memories of Poncho Villa, playing his cornet for him as a boy) and came across as a pretty wonderful human being. His playing blew everyone's socks off, of course. That is an indelible as well as a very fond memory.
this man is so amazing. he is the God of trumpets. i wish he were still around, because his playing would be 1000x better than this, which is impossible to think about.
He originally played on a French Besson trumpet. But after his deal with Olds he usually played on an Olds Mendez trumpet. It's a little hard to tell from the video but I'd say it's his Olds.
He's terrifically good.He could blow at a staccato type~ of blowing which is hard for us as he'd to breath countinueously. GOOD!! Bravo!!! i will gvhi 5 star / 5 star!!:D
He actually just played the Mexican Hat Dance in one breath just before this song, and before the Mexican Hat Dance, he played Flight of the Bumblebee. All the while, giving trumpet players valuable advice.
Although I really don't like this piece at all on trumpet, I can acknowledge the technical virtuosity required to play this on trumpet, and I must say he's a great trumpet player
Sometimes the music gets you moving, and when you're in the groove, it's hard to sit like a statue and play. Most musicians do it to one degree or another.
no disrespect to Rafael Mendez God bless him he is amazing, but doesn't the guy conducting the band look creepy? Kind of like a well dressed Igor.......
I had the incredible priviledge of playing with him four times while in high school in the late 60s. NO ONE even today can come close to the clarity of his attack, especially his double tongue. He did practice 8 hours a day. He also could swim five lenghths of an olympic size swimming pool in one breath, breathing out a thin stream of air.
And yes, he could circular breath and double tongue at the same time.
What else do you want to know about Rafael Mendez.
I got the opportunity to play with him high school too. It was 1966-67 at Luther Burbank HS in Sacramento, CA.
What about Sergei Nakariakov, surely he'd be up there??
😅😅 loanlbalsalfo mi in NJlp
@@TheSproutarian Ha-ha....
Y Arturo Sandoval? Sé puede decir que es igual,parecido o un oportunista?pregunto,no lo sé,aclaro que no soy fanático,solamente curiosidad.gracias
And despite the poor quality this still absolutely floors me.
Could you imagine hearing him play in person?
Wow
Beautiful. His triple and double tonguing are like goblets of pure sound shooting out of his trumpet full and round you can almost catch them. I have never heard any trumpeter past or present with such an ability. Arguably the greatest trumpeter of all time.
I fondly remember Rafael Mendez visit to Blair, Nebraska High School to play with our band. It must have been 1957 or 1958. Great trumpeter and great showman to boot.
This is living proof that one of the most outstanding trumpeters in this world will never be forgotten. Vaya con Dios, Rafael.
Rafael Mendez was scheduled to play with my high school band in our spring concert (1963). Unfortunately, just four days prior to the concert, he came down with the flu and had to cancel. We were heartbroken, (especially all of us trumpet players). That would have been the only time I could have heard the world's greatest trumpet virtuoso..... EVER!! Over the years, I managed to collect about ever album he recorded, even those in Spanish.
His triple tongue is just outstanding! Crisp and on point
The best of all times! Incredible! Master of masters..
I play the violin, and I've played this piece before and it is hard! I can't imagine how hard it is to play on the trumpet. Absolutely brilliant.
I love this piece and I love the fact that it isn't shoddy when played on a trumpet. Three cheers for Sarasate and anyone who plays it with the kind of love that you can feel emanating from Rafael Mendez.
It's hard to understand what's going on in someone's mind who decides to hit the dislike button... why? If you don't like a certain instrument or musical style, don't listen to it. If you are really a good trumpet player, and prefer other playing styles, that's ok, but why dislike this? Other than that... I'm running out of ideas why could anyone possibly dislike this. But in any case, thanks for uploading this, I definitely enjoy it! :)
BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO. Now that's what I'm talking about coming frem a late master of the Trumpet!
one of the brilliant mexicans i still worship
The first great trumpet i ever heard.
None better than master Mendez.
I love the way Mendez always looks like he`s really enjoying playing....what a Man!
I will always remember the sound..and how much expression he puts into it..just marvelous...i sleep to his music..the trumpet god..love him
I do the same thing. I'll fall asleep with my cellphone in my hand listening to this greatest of all trumpet players.
freakin insane... he's in a so much different league then i am... the style, mixed with the expression, passion, sense and emotion like no one else i've heard before.
circular breath and double tongue at the same time - what else do you WANT as a trumpet player^^ - if you played long enough to do it - the perfect tone and power come from itself^^
Most magnificent performance on the Trumpet! Mr. Mendez is a master musician without a doubt. I would put him at he level of this composition when hearing it played with a Violin.
speachless... wish i had a band director like this when i was band... Bravo!
There's real heart and soul in Mendez's playing - this is one of his best examples. Yes, there are modern players who are technically more proficient and modern recording methods are massively superior but I could listen to these recordings all day. Mendez will always be mentioned when talking about great trumpeters. All the more amazing if you've read his biography...
I know this is old but who is more proficient technically?
@npc I think listening to modern players such as Segei Nakaraiov (?spelling) or Hakan Hardenberger their playing is cleaner and more consistent and whilst much of this is down to modern recording techniques and the amount of retakes available live recordings available on this forum show that these players are able to turn it on every time. But i stand by my comments above that Mendez has so much style and soul it's very easy to forgive the odd blip in his playing. Having read his biography he had many problems that would have ended most players careers many times.
Who is technically more proficient? No one.
It's funny how the soprano brass players of his day (i.e. Robert Clarke, etc) mostly prefered the easier to play cornet but this guy prefered the trumpet. Definately one of the greatest if not the greatest of all time. Especially because back then the trumpets were inferior to those made today with all the different customizations and and engineering advances that they now use.
My hats off to the owner of these videos for sharing them with us.
I wish I was alive his day so I could of heard his sound in person , rather than thru the ages of antiquted recording equipment , nonetheless Mr. Mendez's musicality and perfection comes thru ... I'm glad for media tho for peserving treasures like these
This is so... Beautiful. Absolute magic
That's without doubt the best version I've hear of this song! Incredible.
Mendez played an Olds Mendez designed for him by Olds. The Mendez was a copy of his French Besson made prior to WWII.
Impecable , magnifico simplemente el mejor!!!
If Im not mistaken Mendez had an accident when he was in his late teens and lost his ability to play for a period of a year or so...he practiced even harder and as a result he developed multi lip placements...it was said he could play on every spot of his mouth. Thats what even more freakin amazing!
I watched him play two trumpets at one time during our honour band practices. He also taught us the path to deep breathing techniques. At one time, i counted 14 notes per second as well.
A childhood idol, such a fantastic trumpet player and musician.
it's simply brilliant playing... live in one take.... thanks for posting Zooter1940s
Рафаэль Мендес- мировая легенда. Такие звезды рождаются, к сожалению, раз в сто лет.
Rafael Mendez IS and will always BE the best tounge technique person to live.
He was an unbelievably amazing musician!!
Mendez had fabulous technique and loved a bright sound.
Probably the most impressive thing I've ever heard.
Thank you very much for posting these. That the sound sync is on with the video makes them all the more spectacular. Great job!
the favorite trumpet player of Pancho Villa!!! aweeebo MEXICANO!!!
Out of this world. An icon of the trumpet.
Technical brilliance and lots of heart, too!
Jesus Christ! The best anyone coming after him could do would be to equal him, and that would be with great difficulty. No surpassing the all-time great Rafael.
How? HOW!!!!! its so amazing it leaves me speachless
WOW! I could only dream of playing that well.
Is the amazing tecnique that makes it so beatiful, even that Zigeunerweisen was fo violin, sound great with trumpet... him :)
I not only was able to listen to him personally but was able to shake his hand and hold his trumpet... I was in the 6th or 7th grade... he was in Pueblo, Colorado..... a highlight of my life --- unfortunately I did not have the dedication to the horn that he had .... outstanding horn player... Wow...... don't hear music like this these days.... did you do a google and read his biography... interesting.
artista preferido , toca muito bom demais !!!!!
this is some seriously inspiring stuff.... one of the best trumpet compositions I have ever heard no doubt!
SUPER SOLOIST* HE IS REALLY GREAT***
Those 9 dislikes are from clarinet players
Tanner Adams or string players jealous of how well he plays compared to some violin players
Those 28 dislikes are from bassoon players
I thik he is greatest violinist of all time too
Hilarious! I was one of the lucky ones as principal clarinetist in the university band where he visited and played a concert. I was also lucky enough to have been one of 5 or 6 (don't remember how many now) who were invited to lunch with him after rehearsal. He was a great story teller (among other stories, he told us about his memories of Poncho Villa, playing his cornet for him as a boy) and came across as a pretty wonderful human being. His playing blew everyone's socks off, of course. That is an indelible as well as a very fond memory.
what an insane performance!
The best technique the world has ever known.
Phenomenal! My god!
Wow! So clean...
amazing..... truly a Master of the Trumpet..
this man is so amazing. he is the God of trumpets. i wish he were still around, because his playing would be 1000x better than this, which is impossible to think about.
this is such a beautiful piece
WOW!! AMAZING!
Me too....just funny. And Rafael Mendez really a great man.
i think every one wishes they could play like this on their chosen instrument
El más grande!
Beautiful!
maestro rafael mendez el mejor trompetista de todos los tiempos
HAiL 👀👀💗ONE OF MY 🎺💋FaVourite LEGENDS The Great MR MendeZ G⛅D GiVEN TALeNT Tks foR This GiFted🌠 Genious👌
I agree 100000% as a fellow trumpet player!!
Estupendo!
so was hab ich noch nie gesehn!
ich spiel sie grad auf da geige!!!
lg
Brilliant!
my trumpet playing is nothing compared to him. he is amazing! this vid is awesome quality.
I would've loved to hear Rafael play live.
Fabuloso!!!
OMGOT! OHMYGOD of Trumpet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this.. is.. amazing
It was probably called "Moto Perpetuo" by Pagannini. Literally means "Perpetual Motion". I'm learning it right now!
I wish i was evn half as good as him. this is just amazing trumpet playing.
He originally played on a French Besson trumpet. But after his deal with Olds he usually played on an Olds Mendez trumpet. It's a little hard to tell from the video but I'd say it's his Olds.
Why would someone dislike this?
rafael, eres el mas grande.Que sonidazo!!!
He's terrifically good.He could blow at a staccato type~ of blowing which is hard for us as he'd to breath countinueously. GOOD!! Bravo!!! i will gvhi 5 star / 5 star!!:D
beautiful
He actually just played the Mexican Hat Dance in one breath just before this song, and before the Mexican Hat Dance, he played Flight of the Bumblebee. All the while, giving trumpet players valuable advice.
MAGIC.!
What kind of music is this? Or how can I find other musicians like this? I fucking love this...
this video makes me practice more
Lo maximo
I can't believe legends like Rafael are now called band geeks...Rafael has more musical talant than any 10 rappers/hip-hop artists.
Ahh, a Master!
Yeah I agree, I only wish he was playing when our recording technology was better.
Que Viva Jiquilpan Michoacan
Imagine being actually that talented.
It was after seeing this video I realized just how cramped and unimaginative Andren Rieu and his orchestra play this music...
Mendez is from Jiquilpan Michoacán Mexico
The best🔥😎
Wow AMAZING sounds like cartoon music
A cartoon version of The Godfather XD
Remember kiddies, this is recorded with NO reverb, auto-tune or compression. It was done with talent.
haha, I was just thinking of that a few days ago...definitely
0:13 That conductor was never hugged as a child
Top content 🎺
Although I really don't like this piece at all on trumpet, I can acknowledge the technical virtuosity required to play this on trumpet, and I must say he's a great trumpet player
Sometimes the music gets you moving, and when you're in the groove, it's hard to sit like a statue and play. Most musicians do it to one degree or another.
espetacular gostei muito
Just s tremendous musiciasn
no disrespect to Rafael Mendez God bless him he is amazing, but doesn't the guy conducting the band look creepy? Kind of like a well dressed Igor.......
Joseph Richardson yes he looks like Peter Lorre
Not to mention Rafael's mustache make me thinking of Gomez Addams from the movie version.