Yamaha Design “Synapses” Xeno Artist Models

2019 / TRUMPET

The Xeno Artist Model fulfills the highest musical desires of top musicians.

YTR-9445CHS, YTR-9445NYS-YS, YTR-9445NYS-YM

Minimal

The New York (NY) Series Xeno trumpet emphasizes tradition while those of the Chicago (CH) Series blend tradition with innovation. Though these instruments may appear the same at first glance, differences such as the shape of the slides and the bell allow them to be matched to different performance venues, and to provide different playing feels and tones.

Honest

Seeking to achieve the sound and performance expression that artists demand, we took a long look at the flare of the bell. One model developed in a hall with little reverberation produces a rich sound from a bell with a gentle and wide flare, while another model developed in a hall with more reverberation produces strong, directed tone from its more steeply flared bell.

Pride

Finger hooks and braces that connect the bell with the mouth pipe are made using traditional manufacturing techniques, providing a vintage feel to the design and endowing it with good tone. In addition, narrowing the gap between the bell and the mouth pipe quickened the instrument response, allowing players to feel a sense of coherence and achieve a focused tone.

YTR-9335NYS, YTR-9335CHS (both are B-flat instruments)

Inspiring

In contrast to the NY series, which follows a more direct approach in its design and manufacture, the CH Series is an advanced model that incorporates the idea of orchestral performance. Anticipating a switch from a C to a B-flat instrument, we maintain the same performance ability by strengthening the relationship between the position of the two vertical braces and the expansion of the mouth pipe.

Norihisa Fukuda: Designer; FP (Flagship Products) Group

Katsuhiko Furumi: Designer; Wind & Educational Instruments Development Group B&O Instruments Development Department

Supporting artists in both evolution and change.

Developed in collaboration with top artists, the Xeno Artist Model is a more advanced model within the Xeno Series, which continues to evolve in order to become “the ultimate instrument as a partner for performers.”
There are two series: the CH Series, which started out from development with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and that blends innovation and tradition, and the NY Series, which focuses on tradition and was developed with artists who were with the New York Philharmonic at the time. The NY Series also includes models developed in collaboration with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Developing the Artist Model required a full understanding of the artists’ performance and creativity, and incorporating that into the modeling and technical construction in response to their sensibilities. For example, it is our job as craftspeople to digest, understand, and incorporate into the technical approach such abstract expressions as “I want an angry sound.”
An orchestra has various repertoires, so if we take logic to its extreme, orchestral instruments demand a range of expressive ability in which not only beautiful sounds but even ugly sounds can be played. The sound can also change depending upon the country and the performance hall, or by what is demanded by the conductor or current trends.
There is a tendency to think that classical music is just playing the same piece on the same instrument, but that is not the case. The flexibility and scalability of the instruments themselves expands the expressive ability of artists, allowing for constant evolution of new music and sounds.
Recently there is also music for film and games, but even the way Beethoven or Tchaikovsky are performed has continued to change based on trends. Understanding these trends allows us to respond to the various demands of musicians and conductors to enhance the expressiveness of music instrumentals so that they can play any kind of piece, and it is this concept that underpins the Artist Model that we aim for.
As classical music continues to change, it evolves even as it inherits traditions of the past, and in that sense our work is never done. We hope that our instruments will help inspire artists to create new forms of expression.