This is a collection of Classical and Baroque trumpet concerti, and it’s a good selection of these pieces, giving a good idea of how the music progressed…only the sequencing is, um, kind of backwards.
I’ve heard both the Hummel and Haydn before and so won’t be commenting on them. They’re both classics, though.
The oldest concerto here, the Torelli (sometimes called a “sinfonia” for some unknown reason), which dates from the 1710s or earlier – he died in 1709 and I can find no record of when he actually wrote anything – is sequenced third. That’s odd. I’m not sure why. Anyway, from it’s opening notes, it sounds of its time. Torelli was apparently the composer for the trumpet of the Baroque era, writing something like 30 pieces for the trumpet. It’s fine music, but it’s understandable to me why Torelli isn’t remembered like other composers. Also, the trumpet passages are rather sparse compared to the later efforts on this disc.
The final concerto comes from the mid 18th century and was composed by the virtually unknown Johann Baptist Georg Neruda. Like the Torelli, it takes a while to introduce the featured instrument. It certainly pales in comparison to Bach’s trumpet music from earlier in the century – though this is a different era, obviously. I should note I heard it on a modern trumpet, but I don’t care about that stuff. Anyway, I don’t have much to say about it. It’s classical. It’s pleasant. It doesn’t make me want to listen to more Neruda.
All in all, it’s a decent collection that gives you some idea how the trumpet concerto progressed from not very interesting music with Torelli and Neruda to really compelling stuff, with Haydn and Hummel, but that sequencing is a mess.
7/10
- Trumpet Concerto In E Flat: Allegro Con Spirito By Johann Nepomuk Hummel 9:25
- Trumpet Concerto In E Flat: Andante By Johann Nepomuk Hummel 4:45
- Trumpet Concerto In E Flat: Rondo By Johann Nepomuk Hummel 3:40
- Trumpet Concerto In E Flat Hob. VII E:I: Allegro By Joseph Haydn 6:37
- Trumpet Concerto In E Flat Hob. VII E:I: Andante By Joseph Haydn 3:31
- Trumpet Concerto In E Flat Hob. VII E:I: Finale: Allegro By Joseph Haydn 4:35
- Trumpet Concerto In D: Allegro By Giuseppe Torelli 2:00
- Trumpet Concerto In D: Adagio – Presto – Adagio By Giuseppe Torelli 2:18
- Trumpet Concerto In D: Allegro By Giuseppe Torelli 1:33
- Trumpet Concerto In E Flat: Allegro By Jan Křtitel Jiří Neruda 5:13
- Trumpet Concerto In E Flat: Largo By Jan Křtitel Jiří Neruda 4:34
- Trumpet Concerto In E Flat: Vivace By Jan Křtitel Jiří Neruda 4:35