A Courtly Garland for Baroque Trumpet

Biber: Sonata a 5, No. 10 in G Minor, C. 123 Biber: Sonata a 5, No. 4 in C Major, C. 117 Corelli: Sonata a quattro in D for Trumpet, Strings and Continuo, WoO 4 Fantini: Balletto detto il Lunati Fantini: Corrente detta dell’Elce Fantini: Sonata No. 1 in C Major for Trumpet and Organ (detta del Colloretto) Fantini: Sonata No. 2 in C Major for Trumpet and Organ (detta del Gonzaga) Finger: Sonata in C Major for Trumpet, Violin and Continuo Frescobaldi: Canzona Prima Frescobaldi: Canzona Quarta Giovanni Bonaventura Viviani: Sonata No. 1 in C Major for Trumpet and Organ Giovanni Bonaventura Viviani: Sonata No. 2 in C Major for Trumpet and Organ Grossi, A: Sonata a 5 in D Major, Op. 3, No. 11 Pasquini, B: Toccata Reiche: Abblasen in D Major for Solo Trumpet Schmelzer: Sonata a 5 in C major Torelli: Sonata in D (G.6)

The period ensemble Orpheus Britannicus, with director Andrew Arthur, is joined by the renowned Baroque trumpeter Robert Farley for this fascinating album of works for his instrument. Charting the rise of the trumpet within art music during the Baroque period and the growing virtuosic and melodic capabilities of its contemporary players, this thrilling programme tells of the coming of age of this exciting genre. Robert Farley studied at the Royal College of Music where he won several prizes including the Ernest Hall Memorial Prize. He is now a busy freelance trumpeter working with major orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra of London, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and London Sinfonietta. He is Principal Trumpet of the Orchestra of the Sixteen, Hanover Band, Concerto Copenhagen and Carmel Bach Festival, California and is also regular guest principal with Stuttgart Baroque Orchestra. With these groups he has appeared as principal trumpet on numerous critically acclaimed recordings including Bach’s B Minor Mass and Orchestral Suites, Handel’s Messiah and Coronation Anthems. He has been guest principal and soloist with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of Ancient Music and Tafelmusik, Canada.