Mandolin or Trumpet? Why not both!

At my boyhood home, I had a neighbor who would spend his evenings sitting in his backyard playing a mandolin. He was an elderly man, and played jazz standards, but the sound wafted across the air so delightfully.

I would occasionally walk over, where he would let me sing along if I knew the tune, and he always made sure to play something I knew. He also made sure to teach me an old song or two as well.

While Hummel's Trumpet Concerto has a mighty stature in the Classical Music world, I had no expectation from the Mandolin Concerto.

What struck me is the lightness of the whole work, revealing more of the Classical Era side of Hummel. I can only assume this was by necessity, since the mandolin does not have a sound to carry over an orchestra. But also, Hummel keeps the mandolin moving throughout the work, aiming the listener at its nimble scales over any emotional stakes.

This sets against the trumpet which can easily pierce above an orchestra, and has both subtle and grotesque control over its and dynamic gradations. This lends itself both to interesting phrasings and interactions with the orchestra, at least much more so than the Mandolin Concerto. I was particularly taken with Swedish trumpeter Urban Agnas' breath control and shaping of the musical line here.

It should be noted that these performances of the concertos stand out from other recordings. First is the E-Major key of the Trumpet Concerto, which is normally played in E-flat, such as the famous one with Wynton Marsalis. Second, Stephens and Shelley went into the archives to present a more 'authentic Hummel-ian' version of the Mandolin Concerto, so there are small-ish portions for the mandolin which are played differently compared to other recordings.

Much less interesting are the orchestral works here, yet I find them more interesting for the ears. A nice program overall.

A review from 2024

Chandos has been an ardent champion of the music of Hummel. Pairing the Trumpet Concerto with the Mandolin Concerto is a nice touch, plus there is an unknown factor with these rare orchestral works.

Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto is his renowned masterpiece, and rightfully so. Urban Agnas is an expressive trumpet player, and most should be quite satisfied this performance. Listening to his impressively long phrasing, the Swedish trumpeter has the listener wrapped around his finger.

The Mandolin Concerto is light on its feet, I assume due to the inability of the mandolin to compete with an orchestra. One immediately realizes in comparison to the famous Trumpet Concert, the range of expressivity is much smaller, so the work ends up a delightful bon-bon, but not much more. No fault of mandolinist Alison Stephens, for Hummel has the instrument constantly moving.

The orchestral works are more rough and tumble compared to both concertos, featuring a litter of percussion. The London Mozart Players, a pared-down modern instrument ensemble, is willing to let their hair down in these two works, so perhaps it is Hummel unfolding his early-Romantic Era wings. These are a lot of fun.

Howard Shelley holds the reins in on the orchestra during the concertos, where I might have wanted a little more interaction with the soloist. Some of that is on Hummel, who lets the soloists speak unfettered, but the winds are also slightly recessed behind the strings too, probably due to the cathedral location.

Great to have these all together on disc though, and the playing is exemplary.

Listen on YouTube

Works
Trumpet Concerto in E Major (19.03)
Mandolin Concerto in G Major (17.34)
Freudenfest Overture (6.23)
Das Zauberglockchen Ballet Music (16.30)

Soloists:
Alison Stephens, mandolin
Urban Agnas, trumpet

Ensemble
London Mozart Players
Howard Shelley, conductor

Label: Chandos
Year: 2001
Total Timing: 59.39

 

 

  A really nice choice for these Concerto soloists.

  I am not as astounded by the music here, save the Trumpet Concerto, but some interesting choices from Hummel.

Find more Hummel recordings HERE!