Bach: Works for Trumpet Alison Balsom

• 1 I. Allegro 02:04
• 2 II. Adagio 03:50
• 3 III. Allegro assai 02:10
• 4 IV. Sarabande 02:41
• 5 VII. Gigue 02:38
• 6 Aria Variata in A Minor (Italian Variations) BWV 989 09:24
• 7 Partita No. 3 in E, BWV 1006: Gigue 02:06
• 8 I. Allegro 04:55
• 9 II. Largo 05:16
• 10 III. Allegro 03:31
• 11 I. Allegro 03:13
• 12 II. Largo 03:41
• 13 III. Presto 03:12
• 14 II: Aria: Bist du bei mir, BWV 508 02:42
• 15 I. Allegro 04:08
• 16 II. Larghetto 05:02
• 17 III. Allegro ma non tanto 04:24
• 18 VII. Badinerie 01:31
• 19 Mass in B Minor, BWV 232: Agnus Dei 05:00
• Total Runtime 01:11:28

Info for Bach: Works for Trumpet

The title Bach: Works for Trumpet is a little misleading: While Bach did compose glorious music for that instrument, everything here is a transcription. No matter. Bach himself was an avid transcriber, and these adaptations would surely draw smiles from the old Saxon -- not least because of the virtuosity of the soloist, Alison Balsom, who navigates music originally for keyboard, cello, violin, voice, and other sources with equal aplomb. Most daring, perhaps, are Balsom's unaccompanied selections: two movements from one of the cello suites, a Gigue from a violin partita, and the lively Badinerie from the Second Orchestral Suite. There's nothing to mask shortcomings in technique on these solitary tracks, yet Balsom never loses her stride in music that must pose an extra challenge on trumpet rather than on the nimbler flute, violin, or cello. Organist Colm Carey steps in to accompany three transcribed concertos (two of which are in turn Bach revisions of scores by Vivaldi and Marcello, adding to the complexity), while a small chamber group joins the trumpeter for a trio sonata and part of the Agnus Dei from the B Minor Mass. A harpsichord-accompanied Italian Variations and a version of the beautiful song 'Du bist bei mir,' with chamber organ and viola da gamba, complete the album's pleasingly diverse assortment of backup combinations. Balsom's playing is spirited and expressive, with a tone that swaps brassy glitz for a supple vocal quality. All in all, an impressive major-label debut that reveals a talent to keep an eye on.

“…as a showcase for this young artist's mesmerising virtuosity the disc does its job admirably, and presents some familiar and less familiar Bach in new guises at the same time. The supporting instrumentalists, especially organist Colm Carey, make a sterling contribution...” (BBC Music Magazine)

“A disc of arrangements which is impressive on every level. Beautifully mellow playing contrasting with virtuosic moments.” (Classic FM Magazine)

Alison Balsom, trumpet
Colm Carey, organ
Alina Ibragimova, violin
Alistair Ross, harpsichord & chamber organ
Mark Caudle, viola de gamba

Alison Balsom
has cemented an international reputation as one of classical music’s great ambassadors. She has been honoured with numerous awards by Classic FM, Gramophone and Echo Klassik and in 2009 she became the first ever Briton to be crowned “Female Artist of the Year” at the Classical BRITs. In September 2009 Alison headlined classical music’s most celebrated concert – The Last Night of the BBC Proms – which reached its biggest ever global audience of an estimated 150 million.

Recent and upcoming highlights include appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi. Alison also looks forward to embarking on major international tours with I Musici di Roma, the Scottish Ensemble and Alison’s own Balsom Ensemble in 10/11 and beyond.

While represented by the Young Concert Artists Trust, Alison caught the ear of EMI Classics with whom she records exclusively. Her internationally celebrated Bach Trumpet and Organ disc of 2005 was quickly followed by the Caprice album which won her further critical acclaim. Her third album, featuring the great pillars of the trumpet repertoire, the concertos of Haydn and Hummel, firmly established her as the world's leading trumpeter. Her eagerly awaited follow up album which was released in autumn 2010 to great critical acclaim includes a selection of Italian Baroque Concertos

Under the auspices of the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme, Alison performed at the Wigmore Hall and with all of the BBC orchestras.

Alison studied trumpet at the Guildhall School of Music, the Paris Conservatoire, and with Håkan Hardenberger. She was previously a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. Alison was a concerto finalist in the BBC Young Musician competition in 1998 and received the Feeling Musique Prize for quality of sound in the 4th Maurice André International Trumpet Competition. She is Visiting Professor of Trumpet to the Guildhall School of Music. Alison performs a wide range of recital and concerto repertoire, from Albinoni to Zimmermann and performs on both modern and baroque trumpets.

Booklet for Bach: Works for Trumpet