Paul Archibald does it solo

The trumpet as a solo instument has now established itself as a distinctive voice in the musical palette available to concert promoters and programme planners. With an extensive repertoire both soloist and audience have an opportunity to explore the rich and varied musical styles this genre has to offer.

The instrument has had a chequered career as a vehicle for the soloist. During the Baroque period the instrument often reigned supreme as the virtuosic contrapuntal lines of composers such as Bach and Handel elevated the most able performers to superstar status! With the onset of the Classical period the instrument was humbled, often being used for percussive effects with the occasional militaristic fanfare. The Classical and Romantic periods, apart from the the wonderful offerings from Haydn and Hummel, saw the trumpet firmly rooted in the soloistic doldrums with very few notable contributions - unloved and unwanted by generations of great composers!

By the 20th Century the instrument itself had come of age with great strides both in design and manufacturing techniques and importantly composers such a Mahler, Strauss and Stravinsky were elevating the stature of the instrument by using its distinctive timbre as a solo voice within the orchestral texture.

Now that virtuosity and musical expression were back on the menu for trumpeters the level of performance rose accordingly and the musical language extended from classical into a totally new and vibrant language for the instrument - jazz!

It was in the hands of great performers such as Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie that the trumpet regained its status as a solo instrument and classical composers were not slow to make their contributions. The vast repertoire of stylistically diverse music that now exists for the solo trumpet offers a rewarding challenge to th performer and listener alike!