Few etudes that are designed to enhance lyric aspects of trumpet playing are intended for performance as well. These Essays, however, seek to encompass both concerns.
While possessing a potential expressive range exceeded by no other medium, the trumpet, unfortunately, is frequently stereotyped. Therefore, the composer desires that these Essays enable performers and listeners to sense more fully the aesthetic capabilities of this noble instrument.
| Essay No. 1 | Whole Tone (*With Optional Second Trumpet Part) | |
| Essay No. 2 | Atonal | |
| Essay No. 3 | Modally Non-Traditional (*With Optional Second and Third Trumpet Parts) | |
| Essay No. 4 | Rhythmic Improvisation Rhythmic Realization (For Optional use of Electronic Reverberation) | |
| Essay No. 5 | "Saga" | |
| Essay No. 6 | "Elegy" | |
| Essay No. 7 | "Cornet Recollections" | |
| Essay No. 8 | "Dialogue" (For One or Two Performers) Inspired by Thomas Morley's A Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke, 1597. | |
| *Included on insert | ||