Arutiunian: Trumpet Concerto

Introduction

Alexander Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major (1950) is the Armenian composer's sixth major composition, a "virtuoso showpiece" composed in 1949-1950. According to J. Sundram, "it is an energetic powerhouse of Eastern European lyricism and harmonic textures".

Arutiunian's Trumpet Concerto consists of the following movements:

1. Andante—Allegro energico
2. Meno mosso
3. Tempo I
4. Meno mosso
5. 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. At the time the concerto was written, his compositional style was similar to Khachaturian's. However, in the 1960s he tended towards classical forms and clearer tonality.

Arutiunian’s trumpet concerto was his sixth major composition, written in 1950. Arutiunian originally intended to write it in 1943 for a student of Tabakov, Zsolak Vartasarian, who was the principal trumpet in the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. However, Vartasarian died in the war and the concerto was not completed until 1950, so Aykaz Messlayan was the first performer of the Concerto and Timofei Dokschitzer was the first recording artist of this concerto.

The concerto's introduction to the United States is solely due to Dokschitzer, a leading Soviet Russian trumpeter.

Arutiunian's engaging and idiomatic trumpet concerto was "quickly assimilated into the standard trumpet repertoire worldwide, earning highest international praise from audiences, critics and performers". In an interview with Allan Kozinn of The New York Times, Philip Smith, the principal trumpeter of the New York Philharmonic, observed that Arutunian's Trumpet Concerto was frequently chosen as an audition piece at Juilliard. "One of the reasons this piece has become so popular..." Smith said, "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.'" * Professor Anatoly Selyanin related in 2004, "In January I headed the jury of an American competition devoted to the Arutiunian trumpet concerto. 34 trumpeters played only this concerto." Selyanin said that "even a dog", if admitted to a performance, would recognise the musical structure at once and "know that in eight steps the concerto will be complete"...

Structure

Arutiunian's concerto for trumpet was conceived of and written as a single-movement concerto with an extended lyrical episode.^[5] The consists of seven major sections which are all performed without break:

• Andante
• Allegro energico
• Meno mosso
• Tempo I
• Meno mosso
• Tempo I
• Cadenza & Coda

The melodic and rhythmic characteristics of Armenian folk music strongly influenced all of Arutiunian’s work but all of the melodies contained in the trumpet concerto are original (no borrowed folk tunes).

Performers

The Soviet trumpeter Timofei Dokschitzer was the first to record the concerto and make it famous. He visited the USA in concert and performed the concerto there, although Roger Voisin is credited with the US premiere of the concerto, performing it with the Boston Pops Orchestra in 1966.

Other noted performers of the concerto include:

• Maurice André
• Alison Balsom
• Bibi Black
• Carolina Brass
• Tine Thing Helseth
• David Hickman
• Maurice Murphy
• Sergei Nakariakov
• Geoffrey Payne
• Heidi Rogers
• Arturo Sandoval
• Jan Slabák
• Anatoly Selyanin
• Rolf Smedvig
• Philip Smith, the principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic.

Discography

CD

• Bernard Soustrot [trumpet], Philharmonic Orchestra "Des Pays de la Loire," Marc Soustrot [conductor]. France: Pierre Verany PV. 788011, 1987.
• Timofei Dokshizer [trumpet], The Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky. Bulgaria: TD - 950101- AT, 2000.
• Jouko Harjanne [trumpet], Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, Pekka Savijoki. Finland.
• Arturo Sandoval [trumpet], London Symphony orchestra, Luis Has [conductor]. USA: RCA Victor 09026-62661-2, 1994.
• James Watson [trumpet], "The Black Dyke Mills" Orchestra, Roger Harvey [trumpet]. USA: Doy CD 036, 1994.
• Bibi Black [trumpet], Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Constantin Orbelian [conductor]. England: Chandos CHAN 9668, 2000.
• Alison Balsom [trumpet], BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Renes [conductor]. EMI 6785902, 2012.

LP

• Timofei Dokshitser [trumpet], The Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre, Gennady Rojdestvenskiy [conductor]. USSR: Melodiya (D-025139), 1969. Also released as: USSR: Melodiya (SM-02273), 1970; USSR: Melodiya (S10-06785), 1976; Berlin, DDR: VEB Deutsche Schallplatten (SM-02273); Melodiya/Angel (SR-1-40149);
• Vaclav Yunek [trumpet], Prague Symphony Orchestra, Vaclav Neumann [conductor]. Supraphon (SUF 20132), 1963.
• Maurice Andre [trumpet], De l'Office de Radiodifffusion Television Francaise, Moris Suzan [conductor]. France: STU 70714 A. Also released as France: STU 70915 B and Japan: Victor (vic-2015).
• Concerto for trumpet and orchestra. Anatoly Maksimenko [trumpet], Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, Boris Haykin [conductor]. USSR: Melodiya 33D-015506, 1965.