[[[[[[[[[[ "Concerto" For Trumpet Program Notes ]]]]]]]]]]

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The "Concerto" for Trumpet and Orchestra (in F major) was composed, intermittently, between July of 2003 and September of 2004.  The piece was commissioned by the students of Anthony L. Pasquarelli to honor him at his retirement after forty-seven years of teaching at Carnegie Mellon University.  In addition to being commissioned for Mr. Pasquarelli, the "Concerto" is also very much about him.

The first movement remembers Mr. Pasquarelli’s successful career as a trumpet player.  It begins simply with a short woodwind chorale, outlining the main theme of the piece – the 'Teacher’s Theme' – representing Mr. Pasquarelli himself.  The balance of the piece is derivative of this theme.  Moments later, the trumpet soloist enters with the heroic 'Trumpeter’s Theme.'  Following a short orchestral outburst, the soloist is put to the test with a very challenging cadenza, which marks the end of the introduction.  The thematic material is exploited further in a series of gymnastic episodes, including a neo-classical fugue.  Each section requires tasteful execution and flawless technique by the soloist.  At the coda, the orchestra joyously recalls the 'Trumpeter’s Theme,' with the soloist soaring above, leading to a furious conclusion to the movement.

The second movement calls to mind Mr. Pasquarelli’s dedication to his family with a song for Alice, his equally-devoted wife.  Just as in the first movement, the second begins with the main theme of the entire piece, this time played with sweet simplicity.  The strings murmur a warm chordal progression, awaiting the long, sweeping phrases of the solo trumpet.  We hear a simple and earnest statement by the strings, leading to some intimate moments by the soloist.  The ethereal quality then gives way to flamboyant melodies, ending in a short cadenza.  The woodwinds, and then the strings, lead us back to a lush recapitulation of the first theme, with a passionate descant by the soloist.  The movement ends, much as it began, with whispering strings and winds.

The third movement honors Mr. Pasquarelli, the teacher.  Memories of my years of study are represented here.  We begin in the mid-morning, hearing the young trumpet student preparing in a practice room for his lesson.  Then, we hear a fully-realized version of the 'Teacher’s Theme,' as, looking out a window across the campus, the student sees his teacher, walking.  Following the chorale, we hear the soloist (as the student) warming up bit more, leading into the main body of the final movement.  Here, the soloist/student is put through his paces with a fast and very challenging rondo.  With increasing difficulty, all the technical aspects of trumpet playing are explored here.  Finally, at the coda of the movement, we hear the triumphant return of the 'Trumpeter’s Theme,' representing the student’s coming-of-age.  All the while, that theme is chordally-supported by the 'Teacher’s Theme.'  The fast tempo resumes, and the piece concludes with an exciting outburst.

Duration: approximately 22 minutes