Amilcare Ponchielli

Concerto per tromba e banda

Trumpet and wind band (original), or brass band or strings or piano

This trumpet concerto (op. 123) was written in 1866 and was first performed by the Banda Nazionale, conducted by the composer, on 15th April 1866 in the Piazza Garibaldi and on 3rd May in the Piazza Cavour in Cremona. Ponchielli uses the sequence of movements characteristic of the time: the Introduzione is followed by an Aria and then by a Tema con Variazioni leading into the Finale. The autograph shows no flutes, oboes or bassoons, implying that the Banda Nazionale did not possess these instruments. In the original the writing is not always consistent. The rhythm has been corrected only in isolated cases, where this was necessary for the sake of uniformity with the other parts or to match a parallel passage elsewhere in the work. In the original dynamics are indicated only very sporadically and then not always in every part. The autograph served as reference and has been completed as appropriate by the editor.