Trumpet Concerto (Arutunian)
Alexander Arutunian’s Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major (1950), also known as the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto, is the Armenian 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".[1] The concerto was "quickly assimilated into the standard trumpet repertoire worldwide, earning highest international praise from audiences, critics and performers".[2] It was described as flashy by the New York Times[3].
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."[4]
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 Dokschitzer,
- Sergei Nakariakov,
- Maurice André
- Philip Smith, the principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic.
- Roger Voisin, credited with the US premiere of Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto, performing with the Boston Pops Orchestra in 1966.
- Bibi Black,
- Jan Slabák
- Moscow Chamber Orchestra,
- Rod Franks,
- New Jersey Symphony Orchestra,
- Alexei Tokarev,
- Maurice Murphy,
- David Hickman,
- Harry Begian and the University of Illinois Symphony Band,
- Mannes Orchestra, [5]
- Rolf Smedvig[6]
- Heidi Rogers[7]
- 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"...[8]
- Carolina Brass,
- American Wind Symphony Orchestra,
- State Hermitage Orchestra,
- Ryan Aubry and Brandon University Orchestra,
- Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain [9].
- Nicolas Bejarano, winner of the New England Music Camp Concerto competition in 2008
- Blair Stanbridge,
- Kevin Christensen with Oregon State University Wind Ensemble[10]
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 Orchestra. Conductor: Gennady Rozhdestvensky. 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
References
- ^ Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major (1950), By Jason Sundram
- ^ The Russian Trumpet Sonata, by I. Akhmadullin (doctoral dissertation), North Texas, 2003
- ^ CLASSICAL MUSIC AND DANCE GUIDE, The New York Times, August 4, 2000
- ^ A Natural for Outdoors (and Street Corners), By ALLAN KOZINN, The New York Times, August 1, 2000
- ^ Music Listings, NYT, May 2, 2004
- ^ TRUMPET CONCERT: ROLF SMEDVIG AT Y, by New York Times, November 8, 1983
- ^ Where Mozart Tops the Charts, By JENNIFER BLEYER, NYT, April 8, 2007
- ^ Николай Шиянов, Обыкновенное чудо печального оптимиста // Nedelya oblasti, 38 (103), 15.09.2004
- ^ Prokofiev, Arutunian and JanГЎДЌek
- ^ http://osumb.oregonstate.edu/bands/newsletter/bands.newsletter.apr-2010.pdf
External links
