Arutunian Trumpet Concerto
Encyclopedia
Alexander Arutunian’s Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major (1950), also known as the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto, is the Armenia
n composer’s sixth major composition, a "virtuoso showpiece" composed in 1949-1950. It was written for the trumpet player Timofei Dokschitzer
(just before the 29-year-old Arutunian was awarded the State Prize of the USSR for his "Motherland" cantata
). The concerto's introduction to the USA is solely due to Dokschitzer, a Soviet trumpeter, who immigrated to the States and premiered the concerto there. According to J. Sundram, "it is an energetic powerhouse of Eastern European lyricism and harmonic textures". The concerto was "quickly assimilated into the standard trumpet repertoire worldwide, earning highest international praise from audiences, critics and performers". It was described as flashy by the New York Times.
According to Philip Smith
, the principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic
, Arutunian's Trumpet Concerto is now so entrenched in the instrument's repertory that students use it frequently "as an audition piece at Juilliard". "One of the reasons this piece has become so popular among trumpet players is just that it's a flashy piece. It has a very Gypsyish, Russian, Armenian kind of sound, with very soulful, beautiful melodies and plenty of exciting rapid-tonguing kind of things."
The melodic and rhythmic characteristics of Armenian folk music are a strong influence in Arutiunian’s work. As a composer, he expresses his nationality by incorporating the flavor of ashughner (folk minstrel) improvisations.
Conductor: Pekka Savijoki. Finland
The London Symphony orchestra. Conductor: Luis Has. RCA Victor 09026-62661-2. USA, 1994
Conductor: Konstantin Orbelyan, Jr. CHAN 9668 England, 2000
Conductor: Atso Almila. Mils 9651 Finland, 1996
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n composer’s sixth major composition, a "virtuoso showpiece" composed in 1949-1950. It was written for the trumpet player Timofei Dokschitzer
Timofei Dokschitzer
Timofei Aleksandrovich Dokschitzer was a Soviet Russian trumpeter, Professor of Gnesins Musical College. He was the solo-trumpeter of Bolshoi Theater....
(just before the 29-year-old Arutunian was awarded the State Prize of the USSR for his "Motherland" cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
). The concerto's introduction to the USA is solely due to Dokschitzer, a Soviet trumpeter, who immigrated to the States and premiered the concerto there. According to J. Sundram, "it is an energetic powerhouse of Eastern European lyricism and harmonic textures". The concerto was "quickly assimilated into the standard trumpet repertoire worldwide, earning highest international praise from audiences, critics and performers". It was described as flashy by the New York Times.
According to Philip Smith
Philip Smith (musician)
Philip Smith is an eminent American classical trumpet player. He is the principal trumpeter in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Smith, born in the UK, is from a Salvation Army background. He maintains a high reputation amongst trumpeters worldwide as one of the best. He assumed the...
, the principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, Arutunian's Trumpet Concerto is now so entrenched in the instrument's repertory that students use it frequently "as an audition piece at Juilliard". "One of the reasons this piece has become so popular among trumpet players is just that it's a flashy piece. It has a very Gypsyish, Russian, Armenian kind of sound, with very soulful, beautiful melodies and plenty of exciting rapid-tonguing kind of things."
Movements
While not divided into formal movements, Arutiunian's Trumpet Concerto consists of five major sections which are all performed attacca (without pause or interruption of the music):- Andante—Allegro energico
- Meno mosso
- Tempo I
- Meno mosso
- Tempo I - (Cadenza) Coda
The melodic and rhythmic characteristics of Armenian folk music are a strong influence in Arutiunian’s work. As a composer, he expresses his nationality by incorporating the flavor of ashughner (folk minstrel) improvisations.
Performers
- Timofei DokschitzerTimofei DokschitzerTimofei Aleksandrovich Dokschitzer was a Soviet Russian trumpeter, Professor of Gnesins Musical College. He was the solo-trumpeter of Bolshoi Theater....
, - Sergei NakariakovSergei NakariakovSergei Mikhailovich Nakariakov is a Russian virtuoso trumpeter who came to prominence in the late 1990s. He released his first CD recording in 1992 at the age of 15.-Recordings:...
, - Maurice AndréMaurice AndréMaurice André is a French trumpeter, active in the classical music field.-Biography:He is a classical virtuoso trumpeter, born in Alès, France in the Cévennes into a mining family. His father was an amateur musician....
- Philip SmithPhilip Smith (musician)Philip Smith is an eminent American classical trumpet player. He is the principal trumpeter in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Smith, born in the UK, is from a Salvation Army background. He maintains a high reputation amongst trumpeters worldwide as one of the best. He assumed the...
, the principal trumpet of the New York PhilharmonicNew York PhilharmonicThe New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
. - Roger VoisinRoger VoisinRoger Louis Voisin was a French-born American classical trumpeter. In 1959, The New York Times called him "one of the best-known trumpeters in this country."-Performing career:...
, credited with the US premiere of Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto, performing with the Boston Pops OrchestraBoston Pops OrchestraThe Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music....
in 1966. - Bibi Black,
- Moscow Chamber Orchestra,
- Rod Franks,
- New Jersey Symphony OrchestraNew Jersey Symphony OrchestraThe New Jersey Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra located in the state of New Jersey, United States. Philip James founded the orchestra in 1922. The orchestra is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey. Neeme Järvi, the NJSO's music director from 2005 to 2009, is currently the orchestra's...
, - Alexei Tokarev,
- Maurice MurphyMaurice MurphyMaurice Harrison Murphy MBE was a British musician who was Principal Trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 2007....
, - David Hickman,
- Harry Begian and the University of Illinois Symphony Band,
- Mannes Orchestra,
- Rolf Smedvig
- Heidi Rogers
- Anatoly Selyanin, professor: "In January (2004) I headed the jury of an American competition devoted to the Arutunian Trumpet concerto. 34 trumpeters played only this concert." According to him, the concerto is so much popular all over the world, that even a dog presented during the concert, have a knowledge of the concerto's musical structure and "knew, that through eight steps the concerto comes to an end"...
- Carolina BrassCarolina BrassCarolina Brass is the name chosen by two different brass quintets based in North Carolina.Carolina Brass in CharlotteCarolina Brass was founded in 1980 by four principal brass musicians of the Charlotte Symphony and a professor of music at Davidson College...
, - American Wind Symphony OrchestraAmerican Wind Symphony OrchestraThe American Wind Symphony Orchestra is an American musical ensemble comprising the wind instruments found in a symphony orchestra, which is dedicated to the performance of contemporary classical music, and which is known for having commissioned over 400 new works...
, - State Hermitage Orchestra,
- Ryan Aubry and Brandon UniversityBrandon UniversityBrandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
Orchestra, - Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain .
- Nicolas Bejarano, winner of the New England Music CampNew England Music CampThe New England Music Camp is a summer camp for music students ages 11–18, located on in Sidney, Maine, on the eastern shore of Messalonskee Lake in the Belgrade Lakes region. It was founded in 1937 on the site of the defunct Eastern Music Camp....
ConcertoConcertoA concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
competition in 2008 - Blair Stanbridge,
- Kevin Christensen with Oregon State UniversityOregon State UniversityOregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
Wind Ensemble
Discography
- Concerto for trumpet and orchestra. Bernar Sustro, trumpet. Philharmonic Orchestra "Des Pays de la Loire". Conductor: Mark Sustro. PierreVerani. PV. 78801. France, 1987
- Concerto for trumpet and orchestra. Timofey Dokshitser. The Bolshoi TheatreBolshoi TheatreThe Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
Orchestra. Conductor: Gennady RozhdestvenskyGennady RozhdestvenskyGennady Nikolayevich Rozhdestvensky is a Russian conductor.-Biography:Rozhdestvensky was born in Moscow. His parents were the noted conductor and pedagogue Nikolai Anosov and soprano Natalya Rozhdestvenskaya...
. TD - 950101- AT 2000. Bulgaria - Concerto for trumpet and orchestra. Jouko Harjanne, trumpet. Symphony orchestra "Kuopio".
Conductor: Pekka Savijoki. Finland
- Concerto for trumpet and orchestra. (Cadence by A. Sandoval). Arturo Sandoval, trumpet.
The London Symphony orchestra. Conductor: Luis Has. RCA Victor 09026-62661-2. USA, 1994
- Concerto for trumpet and orchestra. (Arrangement for trumpet and wind orchestra by Roger Harvey). James Watson, trumpet. "The Black Dyke Mills" Orchestra. Conductor: Roger Harvey. Doy CD 036. USA, 1994
- Concerto for trumpet and orchestra. Bebe Black, trumpet. The Moscow Chamber Orchestra.
Conductor: Konstantin Orbelyan, Jr. CHAN 9668 England, 2000
- Concerto of trumpet and orchestra. Harri Lidsle, trumpet. The Oulu Symphony orchestra.
Conductor: Atso Almila. Mils 9651 Finland, 1996
LP
- Concerto for trumpet and orchestra. Timofey Dokshitser, trumpet. The Orchestra of the Bolshoy Theatre. Conductor: Gennady Rojdestvenskiy. "Melodia"-Veb Deutsche Schall-platten, Berlin, DDR S. VI-02273
- Concert for trumpet with orchestra. Same performance. "Melodia", Angel, SR-1-40149
- Concert for trumpet with orchestra. Same performance. "Melodia", C10-06785
- Concerto for trumpet and orchestra. Performer: Vatslav Yunek. Prague Symphony orchestra De l'Office de Radiodifffusion Television Francaise. Conductor: Moris Suzan. STU 70714 A, France.
- Concert for trumpet with orchestra. Same performance. STU 70915 B, France
- Concert for trumpet with orchestra. Same performance. Victor (vic-2015), Japan
- Concerto for trumpet and orchestra. S. Leonchik, trumpet. The Bolshoy Theatre Orchestra. Conductor: Boris Haykin. "Melodia", 33D-015506
