Alison Balsom – Bach: Works for Trumpet (2005/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:11:28 minutes | 683 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Warner Classics
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
Tracklist:
01. Alison Balsom, Colm Carey – Concerto in D major BWV 972 after Vivaldi – I. Allegro (02:04)
02. Alison Balsom, Colm Carey – Concerto in D major BWV 972 after Vivaldi – II. Adagio (03:50)
03. Alison Balsom, Colm Carey – Concerto in D major BWV 972 after Vivaldi – III. Allegro assai (02:09)
04. Alison Balsom – Cello Suite No.2 in D minor BWV 1008 – IV. Sarabande (02:41)
05. Alison Balsom – Cello Suite No.2 in D minor BWV 1008 – VII. Gigue (02:38)
06. Alison Balsom, Alistair Ross, Colm Carey – Aria Variata in A minor (Italian Variations) BWV 989 (09:23)
07. Alison Balsom – Partita No.3 in E major BWV 1006 – VI. Gigue (02:06)
08. Alison Balsom, Alina Ibragimova, Mark Caudle, Alistair Ross – Trio Sonata in C major BWV 529 – I. Allegro (04:54)
09. Alison Balsom, Alina Ibragimova, Mark Caudle, Alistair Ross – Trio Sonata in C major BWV 529 – II. Largo (05:16)
10. Alison Balsom, Alina Ibragimova, Mark Caudle, Alistair Ross – Trio Sonata in C major BWV 529 – III. Allegro (03:31)
11. Alison Balsom, Colm Carey – Concerto in C minor BWV 974 after Marcello – I. Allegro (03:12)
12. Alison Balsom, Colm Carey – Concerto in C minor BWV 974 after Marcello – II. Largo (03:41)
13. Alison Balsom, Colm Carey – Concerto in C minor BWV 974 after Marcello – III. Presto (03:11)
14. Alison Balsom, Mark Caudle, Alistair Ross – Bist du bei mir from Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach BWV 508 (02:41)
15. Alison Balsom, Colm Carey – Concerto in A major BWV 1055 – I. Allegro (04:07)
16. Alison Balsom, Colm Carey – Concerto in A major BWV 1055 – II. Larghetto (05:01)
17. Alison Balsom, Colm Carey – Concerto in A major BWV 1055 – III. Allegro ma non tanto (04:24)
18. Alison Balsom – Orchestral Suite No.2 in B minor BWV 1067 – VII. Badinerie (01:30)
19. Alison Balsom, Alina Ibragimova, Mark Caudle, Alistair Ross – Mass in B minor BWV 232 – Agnus Dei (04:59)
