Renold Schilke
Encyclopedia
Renold Otto Schilke was a professional orchestra
l trumpet
player, instrument designer and manufacturer. He founded and ran Schilke Music Products Incorporated, a manufacturer of brass instrument
s and mouthpieces.
before him.
Schilke studied for a year at the Brussels Conservatory in Belgium
and then moved to Chicago
at age 18. Schilke continued his studies at the University of Chicago
and Northwestern University
while playing professionally. As a result of his childhood activities in the Holton plant as well as additional trade school studies, he was a skilled tool and die craftsman and dabbled in both firearms and brass instrument making. During this time, he was a student of the principal trumpet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
, Edward Llewellyn
.
While in Belgium
, Schilke became acquainted with the acoustical ideas of eighteenth century instrument designer and acoustical scientist Victor Mahillon. His theories described nodal points in a resonating tube that would dramatically affect the final pitch produced. Schilke used mathematics
and measurements taken with a contact microphone
and oscilloscope
to identify these key nodes for each pitch in his horns. By making adjustments to the diameter of the tubing, or by eliminating intrusions into the geometric progression at these points, he improved the overall intonation
.
Schilke also studied metallurgy
and the physics
of sound production. He experimented with different alloy
s, formulating and then testing theories as to the effects of utilizing different alloy
s in different parts of the horn on intonation
and timbre
. Schilke took the scientific approach to answering the question of plating versus lacquering or bare brass - finding that the inelastic lacquer
masked the ductility
of most alloys resulting in the resonation of the metal itself being increased relative to the resonation of the air column whereas plating was indistinguishable from bare brass as it was merely a thin layer of equally ductile material.
Like his neighbor and fellow Chicago Symphony trumpeter Elden Benge
, as well as Vincent Bach
, Jerome Callet
and Ernst Couturier
, Schilke used his knowledge of machining and the science of sound to address his dis-satisfaction with the instruments available to him by building his own.
died in 1936; in 1937, Renold Schilke began playing in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
. Following the departure of Elden Benge
, he became principle trumpet in 1938. He would continue in that role until 1951 when he stepped down, remaining available on call as needed until 1962.
Schilke founded a company with Philip Farkas
that would ultimately grow to become Schilke Music Products Incorporated, which he became sole owner of in 1956. In 1966, Yamaha Corporation hired Schilke as a consultant who, with the help of colleagues such as Elden Benge
, Philip Farkas
and Arnold Jacobs
assisted Yamaha in bringing a new line of brass instrument
s to the American Market.
company.
The company continues to build Schilke designed instruments and mouthpieces for the professional and semi-professional market. Schilke mouthpieces are used by players of brass instruments of every age and ability and are the basis for Yamaha mouthpieces, sharing a numbering scheme for their dimensions and characteristics in common.
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
player, instrument designer and manufacturer. He founded and ran Schilke Music Products Incorporated, a manufacturer of brass instrument
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
s and mouthpieces.
Youth
Renold Schilke was born June 30, 1910 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He began playing cornet at age 8. Before his teens, he was initiated into the life of a professional musician playing for the Frank Holton Company and also learning basics of instrument manufacture, as had cornet virtuoso and instrument manufacturer Ernst CouturierE.A. Couturier
Ernst Albert Couturier was a cornet player, feature soloist/headline act on cornet, composer, inventor and brass band instrument manufacturer.- Life :...
before him.
Studies and research
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and then moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
at age 18. Schilke continued his studies at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
while playing professionally. As a result of his childhood activities in the Holton plant as well as additional trade school studies, he was a skilled tool and die craftsman and dabbled in both firearms and brass instrument making. During this time, he was a student of the principal trumpet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
, Edward Llewellyn
Edward Llewellyn (trumpeter)
Edward Llewellyn was an American trumpet player, cornetist and composer.Edward Llewellyn was the son of Welsh-born trumpeter James D. Llewellyn , who emigrated to the United States in 1855 and was a featured cornet soloist at the 1893 World's Fair....
.
While in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Schilke became acquainted with the acoustical ideas of eighteenth century instrument designer and acoustical scientist Victor Mahillon. His theories described nodal points in a resonating tube that would dramatically affect the final pitch produced. Schilke used mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and measurements taken with a contact microphone
Contact microphone
A contact microphone, otherwise known as a pickup or a piezo, is a form of microphone designed to sense audio vibrations through solid objects. Unlike normal air microphones, contact mics act as transducers which pick up vibrations and convert them into a voltage which can then be made audible...
and oscilloscope
Oscilloscope
An oscilloscope is a type of electronic test instrument that allows observation of constantly varying signal voltages, usually as a two-dimensional graph of one or more electrical potential differences using the vertical or 'Y' axis, plotted as a function of time,...
to identify these key nodes for each pitch in his horns. By making adjustments to the diameter of the tubing, or by eliminating intrusions into the geometric progression at these points, he improved the overall intonation
Intonation (music)
Intonation, in music, is a musician's realization of pitch accuracy, or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously.-Interval, melody, and harmony:...
.
Schilke also studied metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
and the physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
of sound production. He experimented with different alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
s, formulating and then testing theories as to the effects of utilizing different alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
s in different parts of the horn on intonation
Intonation (music)
Intonation, in music, is a musician's realization of pitch accuracy, or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously.-Interval, melody, and harmony:...
and timbre
Timbre
In music, timbre is the quality of a musical note or sound or tone that distinguishes different types of sound production, such as voices and musical instruments, such as string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments. The physical characteristics of sound that determine the...
. Schilke took the scientific approach to answering the question of plating versus lacquering or bare brass - finding that the inelastic lacquer
Lacquer
In a general sense, lacquer is a somewhat imprecise term for a clear or coloured varnish that dries by solvent evaporation and often a curing process as well that produces a hard, durable finish, in any sheen level from ultra matte to high gloss and that can be further polished as required...
masked the ductility
Ductility
In materials science, ductility is a solid material's ability to deform under tensile stress; this is often characterized by the material's ability to be stretched into a wire. Malleability, a similar property, is a material's ability to deform under compressive stress; this is often characterized...
of most alloys resulting in the resonation of the metal itself being increased relative to the resonation of the air column whereas plating was indistinguishable from bare brass as it was merely a thin layer of equally ductile material.
Like his neighbor and fellow Chicago Symphony trumpeter Elden Benge
Elden Benge
Elden Eugene Benge, born July 12, 1904 in Winterset, Iowa, was the principal trumpet of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 1928–1933; he held the same position in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1933-1939. After moving to Chicago he began to experiment with designing his own trumpet, taking...
, as well as Vincent Bach
Vincent Bach
Vincent Bach was a musician and instrument maker, who founded the Vincent Bach Corporation.- Vincent Schrotenbach :...
, Jerome Callet
Jerome Callet
Jerome Callet is a musician, teacher and designer of brass instruments.He resides and works in Staten Island, New York. Callet, spends the bulk of his time teaching embouchure for all brass instruments having recently retired from his long-time practice of designing his own line of brass...
and Ernst Couturier
E.A. Couturier
Ernst Albert Couturier was a cornet player, feature soloist/headline act on cornet, composer, inventor and brass band instrument manufacturer.- Life :...
, Schilke used his knowledge of machining and the science of sound to address his dis-satisfaction with the instruments available to him by building his own.
Professional career
Edward LlewellynEdward Llewellyn (trumpeter)
Edward Llewellyn was an American trumpet player, cornetist and composer.Edward Llewellyn was the son of Welsh-born trumpeter James D. Llewellyn , who emigrated to the United States in 1855 and was a featured cornet soloist at the 1893 World's Fair....
died in 1936; in 1937, Renold Schilke began playing in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
. Following the departure of Elden Benge
Elden Benge
Elden Eugene Benge, born July 12, 1904 in Winterset, Iowa, was the principal trumpet of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 1928–1933; he held the same position in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1933-1939. After moving to Chicago he began to experiment with designing his own trumpet, taking...
, he became principle trumpet in 1938. He would continue in that role until 1951 when he stepped down, remaining available on call as needed until 1962.
Schilke founded a company with Philip Farkas
Philip Farkas
Philip Farkas was principal hornist in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for many years; he left in 1960 to join the music faculty at Indiana University Bloomington. He wrote The Art of French Horn Playing which is considered by many to be the seminal work for horn players...
that would ultimately grow to become Schilke Music Products Incorporated, which he became sole owner of in 1956. In 1966, Yamaha Corporation hired Schilke as a consultant who, with the help of colleagues such as Elden Benge
Elden Benge
Elden Eugene Benge, born July 12, 1904 in Winterset, Iowa, was the principal trumpet of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 1928–1933; he held the same position in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1933-1939. After moving to Chicago he began to experiment with designing his own trumpet, taking...
, Philip Farkas
Philip Farkas
Philip Farkas was principal hornist in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for many years; he left in 1960 to join the music faculty at Indiana University Bloomington. He wrote The Art of French Horn Playing which is considered by many to be the seminal work for horn players...
and Arnold Jacobs
Arnold Jacobs
Arnold Jacobs was an American orchestral tuba player who was most known as the principal Tubist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1944 until his retirement in 1988....
assisted Yamaha in bringing a new line of brass instrument
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
s to the American Market.
Death and legacy
Renold O. Schilke died September 5, 1982 of kidney failure while still actively consulting for Yamaha and heading his own company. His son Renold E. Schilke assumed the top position in the company and managed it until October 2002 when it was sold to Andrew Naumann, a veteran of the GetzenGetzen
The Getzen Company is a family owned manufacturer and wholesaler of brass instruments. The present product portfolio consists of Trumpets, Cornets, Flugelhorns, Trombones and a Baritone Horn. Four Generations of the Getzen family have participated in the company.-Founding:In 1939, Anthony James ...
company.
The company continues to build Schilke designed instruments and mouthpieces for the professional and semi-professional market. Schilke mouthpieces are used by players of brass instruments of every age and ability and are the basis for Yamaha mouthpieces, sharing a numbering scheme for their dimensions and characteristics in common.
External links
- The Schilke Loyalist, by James F. Donaldson, http://www.dallasmusic.org/Schilke/
- Schilke Music Products, http://www.schilkemusic.com/
- Yamaha Corporation, http://www.yamaha.com/