Alexander Arutunian’s
Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major (1950), also known as
Arutunian Trumpet Concerto, is the
ArmeniaArmenia , 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 DokschitzerTimofei Dokschitzer was a Soviet Russian trumpeter, Professor of Gnesins Musical College. He was the solo-trumpeter of Bolshoi Theater....
(just before that 29-years old Arutunian was awarded by the State Prize of the USSR for his "Motherland"
cantataA cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment and often containing more than one movement.-Historical context:...
). The concerto's introduction to the USA is solely due to Dokschitzer, a Soviet trumpeter, who immigrated to the States and represented the concerto there.
Alexander Arutunian’s
Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major (1950), also known as
Arutunian Trumpet Concerto, is the
ArmeniaArmenia , 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 DokschitzerTimofei Dokschitzer was a Soviet Russian trumpeter, Professor of Gnesins Musical College. He was the solo-trumpeter of Bolshoi Theater....
(just before that 29-years old Arutunian was awarded by the State Prize of the USSR for his "Motherland"
cantataA cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment and often containing more than one movement.-Historical context:...
). The concerto's introduction to the USA is solely due to Dokschitzer, a Soviet trumpeter, who immigrated to the States and represented the concerto there. According to J. Sundram, "it is an energetic powerhouse of Eastern European lyricism and harmonic textures". The concerto became "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 SmithPhilip 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 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"...
, 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
Arutiunian's Trumpet Concerto consists of the following movements:
- 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 Dokschitzer
Timofei Dokschitzer was a Soviet Russian trumpeter, Professor of Gnesins Musical College. He was the solo-trumpeter of Bolshoi Theater....
,
- Maurice André
Maurice André is a French trumpeter, active in the classical music field.He was born in Alès, France in the Cévennes into a mining family. His father was an amateur musician....
- Philip Smith
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 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"...
. "Mr. Arutunian's Trumpet Concerto is now so entrenched in the instrument's repertory that, Mr. Smith says, students use it frequently as an audition piece at Juilliard. "One of the reasons this piece has become so popular among trumpet players," Mr. Smith said of the concerto, "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."
- Roger Voisin
Roger 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 OrchestraThe Boston Pops Orchestra was founded in 1885 as a subsection of the Boston Symphony Orchestra , founded four years earlier. Careful examination of the rosters of “pops" or “Festival" orchestras, which are associated with a co-resident symphony orchestra in the same community, shows that the...
in 1966,
- Bibi Black,
- Moscow Chamber Orchestra,
- Rod Franks,
- New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
The 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 Murphy
Maurice Murphy is a British musician, and was Principal Trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 2007.He was born in Hammersmith in 1935. He grew up playing in brass bands in Yorkshire, and notably was Principal Cornet of the world famous Black Dyke Mills Band from 1956 to 1961...
,
- 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"...
- Sergei Nakariakov
Sergei 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....
,
- Carolina Brass
Carolina Brass is a brass quintet from North Carolina. Since being founded in 1997, the group has become a national touring ensemble. They tour throughout the United States performing in a variety of settings including concert halls, universities, churches, and giving educational concerts at...
,
- American Wind Symphony Orchestra
The 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 University Orchestra,
- Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain .
- Nicolas Bejarano, winner of the New England Music Camp
The New England Music Camp is a summer camp for music students ages 12–18, 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....
ConcertoThe term Concerto is usually a three-part musical work in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra...
competition in 2008
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 Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by the architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and greatest ballet and opera companies of the world, respectively...
Orchestra. Conductor: Gennady RozhdestvenskyGennady Nikolayevich Rozhdestvensky is a Russian conductor.-Biography:Rozhdestvensky was born in Moscow to musician parents as Gennady Nikolayevich Anosov, but adopted his mother's maiden name in its masculine form for his professional career...
. 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
External links