Haydn's famous Trumpet Concerto was written for Anton Weidinger, a trumpeter who developed the first fully chromatic trumpet between 1793 and 1796.
Instruments
Anton Weidinger's keyed trumpet, for which Haydn and Hummel wrote their concertos, was never accepted into the symphony orchestra, possibly due to its uneven tone.
Performer Biography
Crispian Steele-Perkins, the soloist, is known for his work in films like James Bond and Batman, and for collecting and restoring historic trumpets.
Historical Context
The trumpet is one of Europe's oldest musical instruments, with a history stretching back to antiquity, and served as a military instrument in the Roman Empire.
Instruments
Originally, the trumpet could only play natural notes of the harmonic scale, requiring players to venture into upper harmonics for melodies.
Notable Performances
Haydn's Trumpet Concerto premiered on March 28, 1800, at the Burgtheater, just days before Beethoven's first benefit concert.
Interpretation
This recording recreates the soundworld of Haydn and Hummel by using the specific keyed trumpet for which they wrote their concertos.
