Jonathan Freeman-Attwood is of course a well-known and frequently lauded trumpeter from Britain. He has numerous recordings to his credit, and has done much to bring the instrument’s notoriety in to the modern world by playing many different kinds of pieces in various stylistic guises from different countries and times. Here he concentrates primarily on the early to middle Baroque period, featuring his characteristic brilliant sound so typical (and almost required) of the period.
He succeeds in many ways, but to me this recital is not without issues. One obvious issue to anyone looking at the heading is the use of piano as an accompanying instrument. All of these works therefore become arrangements of a sort, but the nature of this music would seem to imply some other sort of coupling. I must confess that I am surprising myself here at my rather visceral reaction, for I do not consider myself a purist in this regard, and feel that any music can be made moving and applicable with almost any types of instruments.
But this is different—the brassiness of Freeman-Attwood’s trumpet just doesn’t seem to go well with the piano for a full 70 minutes. I kept wishing for some variety, and as the music is not all that varied in tone, a certain monotony sets in rather rapidly. Along with this is the very real and undeniable fact of some trumpet intonation problems in spots (or is it just an aural trick of the ears because of the piano?), and I am afraid that I cannot give this full marks for prospective purchasers. The surround sound is excellent—on that account all is well—but only those hankering for some baroque brass with piano, or those of his many fans should really be steered towards this release. [Right, the title would seem to suggest some sort of celebration – bringing in some other brass friends, or pipe organist or chamber orchestra, eh?…Ed.]
— Steven Ritter
