Mr. Handel's Trumpeters

George Frideric Handel had an outstanding trumpeter in his orchestra: Valentine Snow. “Mr. Handel’s Trumpeter,” as he was later called, inspired Handel to write numerous tailor-made trumpet parts for him. In contrast to his contemporaries, Handel was interested less in virtuosity, than in mellifluous sound and dramatic effect, as reflected in the pieces on this CD. The point of departure for the recording is provided by the trumpet music of Purcell and his contemporaries, music that clearly displays Italian influence and formed the foundation for Handel’s compositions. Johann Plietzsch lets his Baroque Trumpet Ensemble Berlin resound richly colored on this third Raumklang CD with eight trumpets, timpani, and basso continuo, perfectly balanced dramatically with the soft tones of the lute and organ.