Plan Senior Graduation Trumpet Recital

The planning of a senior graduation trumpet recital to earn a B.A. in Trumpet Performance demands considerable forethought and an approximate year of preparation to pull off a very successful trumpet recital program.

In the late Spring of 1971, this Author with the able assistance of his UMASS-Amherst trumpet instructor, Professor Walter “Wally” Chesnut begun the planning of this Author’s senior graduation trumpet recital scheduled to be completed in the Spring 1972 semester.

Professor Chesnut suggested that this Author perform 5 compositions which would include a brass ensemble selection that would be the closer for the recital.

Over the Summer of 1971, Professor Chesnut suggest that this Author practice the following compositions which would then be performed for Professor Chesnut during scheduled routine lesson assignments in the September to October 1971 time frame.

• André Jolivet Concerto #2 – C Trumpet
• Alexander Arutunian Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major – Bb Trumpet
• Henri Tomasi Concerto – C Trumpet
• Joseph Haydn Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major – Eb Trumpet
• Johann Nepomuk Hummel Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major- Eb Trumpet
• Michael Hayden Trumpet Concerto in C major – Piccolo Trumpet
• Leopold Mozart Trumpet Concerto in D major – Piccolo Trumpet
• Yves Chardon (1902-2000) Sonata for D Trumpet and Cello Opus 21
• A Giovanni Gabrieli antiphonal brass choir arrangement of this Author’s choosing.

Because this Author could never perform either the Jolivet or Tomasi trumpet concerto’s without flubbing multiple passages up, the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto was selected to open the recital program.

With regards to this Author’s senior solo trumpet recital program, the following selections were recommended by Professor Chesnut to this Author in the early Fall of 1971.

• Alexander Arutunian Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major – Bb Trumpet
• Joseph Haydn Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major – Eb Trumpet
• Leopold Mozart Trumpet Concerto in D major – Piccolo Trumpet
• Yves Chardon (1902-2000) Sonata for D Trumpet and Cello Opus 21
• Giovanni Gabrieli Canzon duodecimi toni a 10, C179
• The Allegro Movement of the Albinoni would be used as encore selection

Bob’s UMASS senior year graduate recital repertoire consisted of performances of:
Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto for  B-flat trumpet
Haydn Trumpet Concerto performed on E-flat trumpet
Leopold Mozard Trumpet Concert in D – Performed on Piccolo Trumpe
https://study.com/academy/lesson/leopold-mozart-biography-trumpet-concerto.html

Giovanni Gabrieli Canzon duodecimi toni a 10, C179

Bob’s accompanist, Gretchen was a gifted Music Major Graduate Student pianist who transferred to UMASS from Oberlin College around 1970 where she wanted to follow her Piano Instructor, Dwight Peltzer who added as ‘Resident Artist’ to the UMASS-Amherst Music Faculty.  Gretchen was planning a career as a performer as professional piano accompanist.   Gretchen acted as Bob’s piano accompanist during the last 2-3 years of Bob’s stay at UMASS.    Gretchen was a masterful sight reader and nothing was beyond her considerable performance abilities.

The final musical selection that Bob performed at his senior year graduate recital was>>>

Yves Chardon (1902-2000) Sonata for D Trumpet and Cello Opus 21 (1958) performed on D Trumpet

It is quite probable that Chardon composed the Sonata for D Trumpet and Cello Opus 21 with the idea that it would be initially be jointly performed by the Principal Trumpet of the Boston Symphony, Armando Ghitalla and the Principal Cellist of the Boston Sympony,

The “Sonate pour trompette en Re et Violoncello” by Yves Chardon is fascinating. Cello and trumpet performing a duet is indeed uncommon. This sonata is the first and only work for this unique trumpet and cello instrumental combination.  This sonata is in 5 movements and the opening has a “reference” to Petroucha by Igor Stravinsky.

Music Historian, Dennis Caron has written of Chardon and his Sonata; “Yves Chardon was born near Paris. At the age of six he began the study of the cello, and at the age of fifteen he was awarded a first prize at the Conservatoire National de Musique in Paris. After a brilliant solo career in Europe, he accepted the position of professor of violoncello at the Odeon Conservatory in Athens. At Serge Koussevitskys invitation, he joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In 1943, Mr. Chardon went to the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra under Dimitri Mitropoulos, as Principal cellist and Associate Conductor.
“In 1950, Mr. Chardon went to Florida where he founded the Orlando Symphony. He played one season with the Baltimore Symphony prior to joining the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. He played there for over 25 years, including 10 years as principal. (At age 74) he relinquished the position of principal (to) devote more time to composition and writing his Essay on Expression in Music.
“In 1982, Mr. Chardon retired from the Met in order to further pursue his lifelong interest, the playing, composing and teaching of music and its proper expression.
“The opening bars of the Sonata are reminiscent of Stravinskys Petrouchka: the composer states that this kind of flourish is most characteristic for the trumpet. Originally, this was a three movement work, but at the first reading of the manuscript, it became obvious to the composer that the trumpet player needed a little more time to rest. Mr. Chardon decided to improvise between movements. These improvisations were recorded and later transcribed and incorporated; thus the sonata evolved into a five-movement work. It is believed this sonata is the first and only work for this unique instrumental combination.”

In the Opus 21 Sonata, Cardon employs extensive melodic imitation and a contemporary harmonic language of extended tonality in presenting linearly dissonant, often angular themes which are either fanfare like or lyrical in nature.  The success of Chardon’s effort in presenting this unique instrumental collaboration is a tribute

to considerable compositional skill.

Possible recording: https://archive.org/details/SFC_1977_01_10 at bottom of page
and … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbWC85BkSGc

Sonate, Op. 21: I. Allegro vivo – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGLHo0aVhEk
Charles Schlueter – https://www.amazon.com/Virtuoso-Trumpet-Lawrence-Wolfe/dp/B00005U0L6/ref=pd_bxgy_m_text_c?tag=viglink23337-20