To most, the term “en chamade” holds little meaning. Translating to horizontal trumpet, en chamade describes an organ stop where the pipes are horizontal.

Years ago, professors Jill Schneider, an organ player, and David Turnbull, a trumpet player, adopted En Chamade as the name for their duo and have played together under this name ever since.

“We do have an En Chamade stop in Bryan Hall,” Schneider said. “David Turnbull also plays trumpet, so we thought it was a fitting name for our duo.”

According to Turnbull, the organ and the trumpet create a good instrumental marriage, not only because of their sound, but also because of their esteem in the world of music.

“The organ is considered the king of instruments because it’s so large, and the trumpet is considered the instrument of kings,” he said.

However, more recently Turnbull formed another group within the WSU School of Music faculty: the WSU Brass Quintet.

“This group has been in existence for three years, so it’s relatively new compared to En Chamade,” he said. “It features five members from the School of Music faculty.”

The WSU Brass Quintet includes: Matthew Aubin, horn; Chris Dickey, tuba; Denise Snider, trombone; Turnbull, trumpet; and Chris Wurst, trumpet.

Of the quintet, Dickey said it allows the involved faculty more opportunity to perform and the students more chances to see professional

performances.

Aubin agreed that performing in the quintet is as beneficial for them as it is for their students.

“In some ways doing chamber music is a little less pressure than putting on a solo show,” Aubin said. “This way our students can still see us play.”

Though the quintet is largely a collaboration among its members, Dickey said Turnbull was a driving force behind this particular performance.

“For this recital specifically, Turnbull was programming En Chamade’s piece and he wanted a variety in the second half, and suggested the WSU Brass Quintet,” Dickey said.

Turnbull said part of his desire for partnership between the two musical groups was the recital’s early date during this semester.

“To put on a full concert at the beginning of the year, it’s difficult to put together that much repertoire,” Turnbull said. “But if you get two groups to put on a half concert, then you can put them together.”

Dickey added that though En Chamade and the WSU Brass Quintet will be playing separate pieces during different parts of the program, the music picked by each of the group still shares some fluency.

“I think they are contrasting and intending to be contrasting in rhythm and in sound,” Dickey said. “I think (Turnbull) was looking for some variety.”

Both groups will be drawing from different time periods. En Chamade has selected pieces from the common practice period:  music that comes from the 17th through the 19th centuries.

The WSU Brass Quintet chose a more contemporary piece written by a living composer.

Dickey said that the music will be challenging enough for them to play, while still being accessible to its audience. He encourages all community members to attend, even if their knowledge of classical music is slim.

En Chamade’s performance with the WSU Brass Quintet will take place tonight at 8 p.m. in Bryan Hall.

Admission is free for WSU students with ID, $10 general admission, and $5 for seniors and non-WSU students. All proceeds benefit the School of Music Scholarship Fund.