Concerto for trumpet and orchestra

Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra (2002) is a three-movement composition for orchestra and solo trumpet. Each movement has a prominent theme, although there are themes that pervade the entire composition. The main element in the work is a two-note rhythmic statement. This two-note statement unifies the piece. Another prominent idea is a pitch collection of three consecutive minor seconds and their inversions. The first movement, Incipience, begins with a slow foreshadowing of the work’s main themes. Following the introduction is a quick fanfare that leads back to the opening material. A trumpet cadenza develops from the introductory ideas, which leads back to the fanfare section. Much of the second movement, Departure, relies on material from Leonel Power’s mass Alma Redemtoris Mater. Two contrasting themes can be heard. The first is material from the Power mass, while the second theme is a polyrhythmic arpeggiation in a distantly related key. The juxtaposition of the two themes creates a polytonal effect. The last movement implements ideas from the first two movements. Resolve uses five varying sections that are used in an ABCDA´B´C´E form. The opening A section uses a call and response idea with a rhythmic cell providing the basic material. The B section is fugal, reminiscent of the first movement’s B section. One melodic theme permeates the C section, which develops material around that single melody. The D section is a cadenza which combines previous solo material from each movement. The composition returns to the very opening of the entire work in the E section, which uses ideas from the first movement’s opening statement