New release of John Williams's Trumpet Concerto

[Incanus 5,858]

I just came across by chance a new release of John Williams's Trumpet Concerto! It has been produced by a Finnish record label Pilfink Records and the album pairs Williams's work with the Trumpet Concerto of a Finnish young generation composer Arttu Sipilä. The music is performed by eminent Finnish trumpet player Jouko Harjanne and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Eva Ollikainen and Dima Slobodeniouk.

The album is called Concertos for Trumpet and Orchestra and is available on the record label's site.

[Miguel Andrade 1,527]

This is indeed a brilliant new performance of the Concerto, and to my ears superior to the previous release, featuring Arturo Sandoval as soloist.

Also. note the string pizzicato around the 3:30 mark of the second movement, absent from the previous release.

And while I fully recommend the purchase from the label's website, for those who prefer (lossy) digital downloads, this can also be found at iTunes.

[Tom 5,616]

Is the string pizzicato evidence of a revision, as has been Williams's custom of late, or was it part of the original and edited down for some reason afterwards? Are there other differences?

[nightscape94 967]

Since Sandoval was a bit out of his element on the concerto, I'm glad this got another release. Not a fan of Sandoval or his performance on that CD.

[Thor 9,308]

I think the Sandoval performance is fine, but then again I'm not into the very details of these things like you guys are.

Nice to see this get another release, but for every such album I'm always reminded of all the concert pieces by Williams that do NOT have an official recording at all (or an unsatisfactory recording, like the clarinet).

[Joe Brausam 228]

I agree, Sandoval just didn't belong performing a work like this. A new performance by a classical player will certainly be welcome!

[Incanus 5,858]

Having listened this new recording twice I have to say I really prefer it to the previous one. A terrific performance!

The liner notes unfortunately mangle Williams' dedication of his concerto as there are typos and omission of a whole passage mid-sentence. Curious how this has been missed in the proof-reading of the booklet.

[A24 4,814]

How is the trumpet concerto of Arttu Sipilä?

[indy4 159]

Bought it on iTunes...based on the samples the performance sounds great! And I was a fan of the original.

[Incanus 5,858]

How is the trumpet concerto of Arttu Sipilä?

I'll delve into that today. Yesteday when the CD arrived I only had time and ears for Williams. At quick glance Sipilä's work (written with Jouko Harjanne in mind) is not as virtuosic as Williams' concerto (especially Johnny's last movement). But as I said I require a full concentrated listen to give more extensive thoughts.

Miguel? Any thoughts?

[Miguel Andrade 1,527]

I confess I still need to have a few more listens to the Sipila concerto. Still I found it quite enjoyable already. The influences mentioned on the notes, mainly the Mahler, sounded quite obvious right from the start.

I do agree that the booklet is quite poor -- and there is no apologize for the typos... I would have hoped for some additional information or analysis on both concertos besides the notes by the composers. But the most important is the recorded performance, and that makes up for those little things.

Regarding the pizzicato, I still need to check the printed score... but have been busy for this past couple of weeks since I got the CD -- and yes, a bit lazy as well... but will compare it asap.

[Joni Wiljami 1,233]

I just can't believe I never heard anything about this recording...

[TJH132 49]

The concerto as previously recorded always came off a bit stiff and unemotional. This new recording fixes those impressions. Well done!

[Incanus 5,858]

The concerto as previously recorded always came off a bit stiff and unemotional. This new recording fixes those impressions. Well done!

Agreed!

[Miguel Andrade 1,527]

I checked and while my ability to read scores is limited, I think the pizzicato was on it... meaning that for some reason it was edited out from the previous recording.

[Bespin Copilot 9,633]

Added to the Wiki disco, thanks!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Williams_discography#Concert_works

[nightscape94 967]

Just bought it from iTunes and listened to it. Clearly the better version. I actually have a new-found respect for it. I already liked it, but now I'm quite smitten with it. Exceptional playing and sound quality. Great slow movement.

[Bespin Copilot 9,633]

Here's an interresting doctoral essay about two trumpet concertos, including John William's one.

http://www.google.com/url?url=http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi%3Farticle%3D1572%26context%3Doa_dissertations&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=BJe2U4TRHOPJsQSQo4CYBQ&ved=0CBQQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNFJtgHn5wQNKu5JHCxkBk9m4qMBGA

(...) collegiate professors of trumpet who post suggested repertoire

lists for students and include this work on their list put the Williams Trumpet Concerto in

their most advanced category. Additionally, Hickey’s Music Center, a reliable and wellregarded

source for sheet music, rates the Williams Concerto as a “Grade 7 – Virtuosic”

work (out of a possible 7 levels), calling it an “exciting, demanding work for the true virtuoso.”

[Miguel Andrade 1,527]

Cool, thanks for the link