James George Stamp (20 December 1904 – 22 December 1985) was an American professional musician.

Background

James George Stamp was born 20th of December 1904 in Carberry, Manitoba, Canada, to parents James Walter Stamp and Frances Jane Stamp (new Ireson) both English immigrants who arrived in Canada, North America in 1902. His parents were both Salvationists. James Walter Stamp was also musically inclined playing cornet in the Army band and rising to the rank of Major. Stamp was a professional musician from the age of 16, starting in the Mayo Clinic Band at

Rochester, Minnesota Rochester is a city in Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. It is located along rolling bluffs on the Zumbro River's south fork in Southeast Minnesota. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a popul ...

. After having played in different Minneapolis theatres he was asked to play 4th trumpet in the

Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded originally as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, the Minnesota Orchestra plays most of its concerts at Minneapolis's Orchestra Hall. History Th ...

. Playing 4th trumpet didn't allow for enough performances and the first trumpet player treated him like a valet. Later, after an argument with the 1st trumpet he was asked to play the 1st part on the Brahms 2nd Symphony while on tour to Cincinnati. He was then given a contract as 1st trumpet for the next season immediately after the concert. James Stamp held a position with the

for 17 years playing

Trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz musical ensemble, ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest Register (music), register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitche ...

under conductors such as

Henri Verbrugghen Henri Adrien Marie Verbrugghen (1 August 187312 November 1934) was a Belgian musician, who directed orchestras in England, Scotland, Australia and the United States. Born in Brussels, Verbrugghen made his first appearance as a violinist when o ...

Eugene Ormandy Eugene Ormandy (born Jenő Blau; November 18, 1899 – March 12, 1985) was a Hungarian-born American conductor and violinist, best known for his association with the Philadelphia Orchestra, as its music director. His 44-year association with ...

and his favorite

Dimitri Mitropoulos Dimitri Mitropoulos (; – 2 November 1960) was a Greek and American conductor, pianist, and composer. Life and career Mitropoulos was born in Athens, the son of Yannis and Angelikē (Angeliki) Mitropoulos. His father owned a leather goods s ...

. Later after

left the Orchestra and

became conductor the orchestra's finances were not very good. So, in 1944 he decided to sell his house and move to California. Mitropoulos tried to talk him out of leaving, but the house was already sold and he had made his decision. Stamp relocated to

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, where he was immediately asked to play in studio orchestras in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

, as well as radio and television programs. He suffered a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

in 1954, after which he devoted more time to teaching. He wrote an instructional book, ''Warm-ups + Studies'' which was first published in 1978. He died on December 22, 1985. Thomas Stevens, former Principal Trumpeter of the

Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra The Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California. The orchestra holds a regular concert season from October until June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from ...

said, ''"I believe James Stamp was one of the finest teachers in the world. His approach was so flexible that I have never seen him fail to improve a player, whether it be an established symphony musician, jazz or lead player or a twelve-year-old student."''

Bibliography

* ''Warm-ups + Studies: trumpet & other brass instruments in treble clef, CD in C and Bflat'' (1995)

Articles

Articles in the Brass Bulletin, International Magazine for Brass Players: * Brass Bulletin 39, III-1982 (p. 14-21), Alfred Willener, Subtle Teaching * Brass Bulletin 53, I-1986 (p. 3-4), Jean-Pierre Mathez/Thomas Stevens, Editorial "Homage to James Stamp" * Brass Bulletin 100, IV-1997 (p. 59-65), Jean-Christophe Wiener, James Stamp, Master in Listening part 1

References

External links

James Stamp, Warm-ups and Studies for trumpet at Editions Bim

James Stamp: Practical Hints
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stamp, James American male trumpeters 1985 deaths 1904 births 20th-century American trumpeters 20th-century American male musicians