David Mason

David Mason is an English trumpet player now in retirement. Despite his long and distinguished career playing in many London orchestras and other ensembles and on many recording sessions, and teaching many of the trumpet players who now make up the core of the profession in the UK, he is most remembered, by many people, for one short tune.

In 1967 at Abbey Road Studios Mason recorded the piccolo trumpet solo which is a prominent part of The Beatles' song "Penny Lane". Although such solos are almost commonplace now this was extremely innovative at the time and has caused much debate ever since. The solo, inspired by a performance of Bach's 2nd Brandenburg Concerto, is in a mock-Baroque style for which the piccolo trumpet (a small instrument built about one octave higher than the standard instrument) is particularly suited, having a clean and clear sound which penetrates well through thicker midrange textures.

Transcription of the beginning of the "Penny Lane" solo

External link

• Trumpet fan site about the Penny Lane solo (http://www.nevilleyoung.co.uk/pennylane)