Search - Niklas Eklund :: The Art of the Baroque Trumpet, Vol 3

Trumpet & voice

Chris | Framingham, MA USA | 09/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Are you one of those who's favorite movement from Messiah is 'Trumpet Shall Sound'? Then this is for you! Beautiful interplay of trumpet and soprano."

Another Breathtaking Success by Phenomenon Niklas Eklund

John A. Moskal II | Carmel, IN USA | 05/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Niklas Eklund, the baroque trumpet phenomenon returns with another superb representation of the baroque sound of the trumpet. He is here accompanied by the lovely singing of soprano Susanne Rydén whose voices weaves in and out with both the trumpet sound of Niklas Eklund and the ensemble playing of the London Baroque.



The technique displayed on this album is no less impressive than any of his previous if indeed it is not more so. My particular mention goes out to the duet between the two in the "Pace Una Volta" where Eklund's phrasing, sound, and technique remains flawless despite the length of breath required and the extreme range of the line. His articulation through the album seeks to augment and enhance the vocal line in every way possible. He never covers up the vocalist nor makes her to seem less important than himself, and indeed she reciprocates with the London Baroque completing the cast. The choice of repertoire here is slightly more obscure with the emphasis placed on soprano and trumpet duet rather than trumpet feature making this also a great addition to the collection of any connoisseur.



Once more, the NAXOS Label allows the purchase of this album with minimum damage to the wallet, thus making this again a must have for anyone with an interest in the area and not merely the focused student of early music."

Angelic Twins

Giordano Bruno | Wherever I am, I am. | 09/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The 'voices' of soprano Susanne Rydén and trumpeter Niklas Eklund, that is! You'll hear the perfect match of timbres and articulations immediately within seconds of touching your 'play' button, on the aria "Eternal source of light divine", the musical high point of Handel's oratorio Samson, as Rydén and Eklund echo each other in exact melodious canon. Then, on track two - "Let the bright seraphim", also by Handel - you'll hear the obbligato trumpet delving into its more metallic lower register, merely to soar back to soprano brightness. Both soprano and trumpet 'sing' in the vibrato-free 'white' voice of the historical baroque, and both are splendidly agile and splendidly in tune.



The use of obbligato (i.e. 'necessary' in addition to the continuo) instrumental accompaniment to vocal arias came into fashion suddenly in Italy at the beginning of the Baroque era but went out of fashion almost as quickly in its birthplace. Italian and Italian-trained composers, especially in Austria and England, continued the fashion, however, and the lovely works on this CD demonstrate why: it works so very well musically! Of the composers represented on this CD, Fux, Caldara, and the little-known Luca Predieri (1688-1767) were all active at the imperial court in Vienna. Alessandro Stradella (1644-1682) was of the earlier generation of Italians who stayed in Italy, especially in Rome. Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725) was the Roman of all Romans, of course, and the one Italian of his era who ranks with Telemann, Bach and Handel among the greatest of baroque composers. His cantata "Su le sponde del Tebro" is familiar from numerous recordings, but the four "Arie con tromba sola" are glorious discoveries.



The trumpet which Niklas Eklund plays on this CD is an instrument made to the measurements of a 'natural' trumpet built around 1700, but it is modified by the inclusion of small holes in the tubing, covered and uncovered by the fingers of the players left hand. This may be a modern innovation, though there is some reason to think that it had been discovered previously in the 18th C. The tubing from which a historical trumpet was made was hand-rolled and pounded; the irregularities in the bore actually 'destabilized' certain harmonics, allowing the virtuosic performer with iron chops to 'budge' the pitch in the proper direction. Factory-perfect modern tubing is in fact less susceptible to embouchure adjustments; hence the need for the finger holes. In any case, it's the embouchure that makes the virtuosity you hear from Eklund, a fourth-generation trumpeter.



This is the third volume of Eklund's "Art of the Baroque Trumpet". I've already reviewed the first two volumes. Honestly, dear readers, this is the volume to get if you plan to get only one of the five. Not only is the singing of Susanne Rydén absolutely wonderful, but the music is of the highest brilliance. The six composers - Scarlatti, Handel, Fux, Stradella, Caldara, and even Predieri - were masters of every aspect of baroque musical practice. If you've ever supposed that the modern valved trumpet replaced an inferior, archaic instrument, this CD and this whole five-CD set may set you straight.



Besides, trumpet and voice make an exhilarating combo, a musical "rush' about equal to three cups of Swedish coffee, the strongest in Europe."