The trumpet is often regarded as a leading, spotlight instrument among wind instruments, and especially in wind ensembles and classical music, you’ll often hear the trumpet playing standout phrases.
Beyond that, there are plenty of songs where the trumpet shines in drama and film insert songs, as well as in jazz classics.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide selection of cool trumpet pieces all at once.
We’ve chosen a variety of tracks across genres with the trumpet at the core, so be sure to find some pieces you’d like to perform yourself.
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Songs with cool trumpet parts: Introducing masterpieces of wind ensemble and jazz (1–10)
The Pigeon and the BoyHisaishi Joe
This piece is performed in Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film Castle in the Sky (Laputa) and was composed by Joe Hisaishi.
At sunrise, the protagonist Pazu—who keeps pigeons—plays the trumpet.
The scene of him performing this piece is quite striking, isn’t it? The music itself is beautiful and vibrant, with the timeless quality of a classical masterpiece that feels as if it has been played for ages.
In the film, it is performed by Susumu Kazuhara, known for playing theme songs for various TV dramas, including the Hissatsu series.
“Main Title” from the movie Star WarsJohn Williams
When it comes to film music where the trumpet carries the main theme, the “Main Title” from the movie Star Wars surely comes to mind.
Composed by John Williams, who has written numerous film scores, it has become such a standard that top orchestras perform it.
Just hearing the “Main Title” brings various scenes from the film to mind and makes you want to set off on an adventure.
It’s a piece I hope will continue to be performed as a classic for years to come.
Lupin the Third Theme ’78Ōno Yūji
The theme from Lupin the Third—famous from the anime and films—has many versions depending on the arrangement, but this ’78 version is especially cool for its trumpet intro and has a finish that leans into a jazz arrangement.
Composed by Yuji Ohno, who is also a jazz pianist, it’s performed by a lineup of musicians who represent the Japanese jazz scene.
Another highlight of this video is that you can hear ad-lib solos during the interlude.
Passion ContinentHakasé Tarō
Composed as the opening theme for the documentary program “Jounetsu Tairiku,” Taro Hakase’s “Jounetsu Tairiku” has become beloved in many forms—not only as a violin solo but also in brass band, piano solo, trumpet solo, and more.
Because the period from commission to deadline was an extremely short one week, he reportedly pieced it together by gathering motifs from his existing works.
The passion this piece exudes may reflect Hakase’s mindset at the time—fired up with a “I’m going to do this!” spirit in the face of a daunting challenge.
SpainChick Corea
Chick Corea, who was active in the United States as a jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer, wrote “Spain,” a piece that is extraordinarily famous as a jazz standard.
It begins with a striking intro that uses the motif from the second movement of Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo’s masterpiece, the Concierto de Aranjuez, and when it shifts to an up-tempo feel, both performers and audience are instantly energized.
Beloved in many formats—jazz band, piano duo, saxophone solo, and more—it has also become one of the essential repertoire pieces for trumpeters.
Theme of Hissatsu ShigotoninHirao Masaaki
The Hissatsu series, a long-running period drama that aired on TV starting in 1972.
Makoto Fujita’s portrayal of Master Nakamura had a wonderfully distinctive flavor, didn’t it? Unlike typical period dramas, the show incorporated current events and topical humor of its time.
This is the piece that was loved as something like the show’s trademark.
The trumpet fanfare always gets me excited as soon as it starts.
The performance is by the renowned trumpeter Susumu Kazuhara, who played theme music for many dramas and programs.
Friday Night FantasyPierre Porte
Friday Night Fantasy, composed by Pierre Porte—a French composer known as the “painter of sound”—was written as the opening theme for the film program Friday Road Show.
The piece was originally commissioned with the request to “include trumpet,” making it a track where the trumpet truly takes center stage.
Its soul-piercing melody pairs perfectly with the trumpet’s squeezed, heartrending tone.
Perform it boldly, as if you were the protagonist of the story.