The Marcel Bitsch Vingt Études are taught in many university trumpet studios across the United States. David Baldwin, professor of trumpet at the University of Minnesota, has recorded all of them for the International Trumpet Guild. The editor, Raymond Sabarich, is considered the founder of the modern French school of trumpet playing. All of these facts emphasize the importance of the Bitsch Vingt Études.

Articulation is a significant component in performing on a brass instrument. By varying the attacks of the tongue, different timbres can be successfully achieved on the trumpet. Because of the volume the trumpet can generate, any defective articulation will be more noticeable. Articulation is for the brass player what consonants are for the singer—successful execution is imperative or a lack of clarity results.

One major problem in teaching the Bitsch etudes is the lack of attention paid to French pronunciation. The musical ideas in these etudes (melodies, articulation, phrasing, etc.) were conceived by a Frenchman. Proper French pronunciation is significantly different from that of any other language. While fluency in French is not a prerequisite for successful performance of these works, understanding the basics of French pronunciation and how they influence French articulation is essential.

This dissertation attempts to examine the different articulations present in the Marcel Bitsch Vingt Études. After laying the groundwork for the need to modify ones tonguing to conform to the rules of French pronunciation, it then collates all the types of articulation present in the etudes and then examines each one in detail. In each case, proper French pronunciation is examined and then applied. Consideration is also given to specialized techniques within the stylistic parameters of French pronunciation and their impact on performance.