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.

@Sacto_Dave

2 жыл бұрын

I got the opportunity to play with him high school too. It was 1966-67 at Luther Burbank HS in Sacramento, CA.

@TheSproutarian

Жыл бұрын

What about Sergei Nakariakov, surely he'd be up there??

@martasalgado6983

Жыл бұрын

😅😅 loanlbalsalfo mi in NJlp

@andybez7700

11 ай бұрын

@@TheSproutarian Ha-ha....

@josejesuslimaarganaraz6489

10 ай бұрын

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?

@TheSoliton

2 жыл бұрын

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.

The best of all times! Incredible! Master of masters..

His triple tongue is just outstanding! Crisp and on point

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.

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! :)

one of the brilliant mexicans i still worship

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^^

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.

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.

BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO. Now that's what I'm talking about coming frem a late master of the Trumpet!

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 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

@Mrgop

5 жыл бұрын

I do the same thing. I'll fall asleep with my cellphone in my hand listening to this greatest of all trumpet players.

I love the way Mendez always looks like he`s really enjoying playing....what a Man!

The first great trumpet i ever heard. None better than master Mendez.

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...

@npc9207

Жыл бұрын

I know this is old but who is more proficient technically?

@dicktrumpet

Жыл бұрын

@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.

@joksal9108

8 ай бұрын

Who is technically more proficient? No one.

speachless... wish i had a band director like this when i was band... Bravo!

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.

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!

@Dennisoehler

3 жыл бұрын

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.

Mendez played an Olds Mendez designed for him by Olds. The Mendez was a copy of his French Besson made prior to WWII.

Thank you very much for posting these. That the sound sync is on with the video makes them all the more spectacular. Great job!

Impecable , magnifico simplemente el mejor!!!

it's simply brilliant playing... live in one take.... thanks for posting Zooter1940s

A childhood idol, such a fantastic trumpet player and musician.

this is some seriously inspiring stuff.... one of the best trumpet compositions I have ever heard no doubt!

Probably the most impressive thing I've ever heard.

Rafael Mendez IS and will always BE the best tounge technique person to live.

Рафаэль Мендес- мировая легенда. Такие звезды рождаются, к сожалению, раз в сто лет.

He was an unbelievably amazing musician!!

How? HOW!!!!! its so amazing it leaves me speachless

Technical brilliance and lots of heart, too!

Mendez had fabulous technique and loved a bright sound.

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.

this is such a beautiful piece

Out of this world. An icon of the trumpet.

Is the amazing tecnique that makes it so beatiful, even that Zigeunerweisen was fo violin, sound great with trumpet... him :)

the favorite trumpet player of Pancho Villa!!! aweeebo MEXICANO!!!

WOW!! AMAZING!

Those 9 dislikes are from clarinet players

@thatmexicanguy578

7 жыл бұрын

Tanner Adams or string players jealous of how well he plays compared to some violin players

@tonyshazam6271

4 жыл бұрын

Those 28 dislikes are from bassoon players

@vanjakranjec9226

4 жыл бұрын

I thik he is greatest violinist of all time too

@sfsphil

3 жыл бұрын

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!

amazing..... truly a Master of the Trumpet..

WOW! I could only dream of playing that well.

artista preferido , toca muito bom demais !!!!!

The best technique the world has ever known.

Beautiful!

Phenomenal! My god!

Wow! So clean...

SUPER SOLOIST* HE IS REALLY GREAT***

this.. is.. amazing

Fabuloso!!!

my trumpet playing is nothing compared to him. he is amazing! this vid is awesome quality.

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.

Estupendo!

beautiful

El más grande!

Brilliant!

HAiL 👀👀💗ONE OF MY 🎺💋FaVourite LEGENDS The Great MR MendeZ G⛅D GiVEN TALeNT Tks foR This GiFted🌠 Genious👌

rafael, eres el mas grande.Que sonidazo!!!

this video makes me practice more

I agree 100000% as a fellow trumpet player!!

Me too....just funny. And Rafael Mendez really a great man.

The best🔥😎

MAGIC.!

i think every one wishes they could play like this on their chosen instrument

It was after seeing this video I realized just how cramped and unimaginative Andren Rieu and his orchestra play this music...

maestro rafael mendez el mejor trompetista de todos los tiempos

I would've loved to hear Rafael play live.

It was probably called "Moto Perpetuo" by Pagannini. Literally means "Perpetual Motion". I'm learning it right now!

Ahh, a Master!

so was hab ich noch nie gesehn! ich spiel sie grad auf da geige!!! lg

Top content 🎺

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

I wish i was evn half as good as him. this is just amazing trumpet playing.

Lo maximo

Why would someone dislike this?

OMGOT! OHMYGOD of Trumpet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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.

What kind of music is this? Or how can I find other musicians like this? I fucking love this...

haha, I was just thinking of that a few days ago...definitely

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.

Imagine being actually that talented.

Thanks! :)

espetacular gostei muito

the conductor is funnyyyyyyy!!!1 hehehe! and ooh nice lighting in the shot after that.

that's the real deal!

@OrganCat AND one hell of a lot of hard work.

Bravomisioooooooooooooooo

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.

Que Viva Jiquilpan Michoacan

I can't believe legends like Rafael are now called band geeks...Rafael has more musical talant than any 10 rappers/hip-hop artists.

Wow AMAZING sounds like cartoon music

@ridgepatterson7692

8 жыл бұрын

A cartoon version of The Godfather XD

Yeah I agree, I only wish he was playing when our recording technology was better.

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.......

@lenzotrumpet

6 жыл бұрын

Joseph Richardson yes he looks like Peter Lorre

@AlexSDU

4 жыл бұрын

Not to mention Rafael's mustache make me thinking of Gomez Addams from the movie version.