• Naulais: Cocktail

CRITICS' CHOICE 2009

Barry Kilpatrick, American Record Guide

"This one ranks [among trumpet ensemble recordings] as one of the best. It is hard to imagine a better trumpet ensemble than Tromba Mundi, whose members play with an admirable purity of tone and nearly flawless balance, intonation, and ensemble precision."

Kilpatrick, American Record Guide - September / October 2009

"What happens when 7 trumpet players are tasked to fill a CD with music written exclusively for their instruments?  If those 7 trumpeters happen to be the virtuosi of Tromba Mundi, the result is a resounding success on all counts. Their self-titled 1st release is a must for trumpet players, brass enthusiasts, and casual listeners alike.

The principal reason for their success is the simple yet monumental achievement of bringing to light that there are indeed many high quality and varied pieces written for trumpet ensemble.  With brass chamber music largely dominated by quintets, quartets, and recently even tuba-euphonium ensembles and trombone choirs, the idea of getting several of the highest, smallest, and arguably brightest and loudest brass instruments together to make music is a relatively recent, though most welcome, development.  What’s more, to expect this group of identical instruments to play with a full palate of nuanced tone colors while balancing and blending to form a unified sound otherwise associated with string quartets is a tall order indeed.  Tromba Mundi delivers.

The choice of repertoire and the organization of the CD’s tracks also deserve praise. The danger of purchasing a recording bursting with over 70 minutes of music for multiple trumpets should be obvious, but the buyer need not beware – the music encompasses many different moods, styles, and decibel levels. Tromba Mundi was also careful to include a balanced mix of trumpet ensemble standards like the Eric Ewazen Fantasia, up-and-coming compositions like Jerôme Naulais’ triptych Cocktail (which opens the CD), and a more than fair amount of commissioned works and world première recordings.  For a young ensemble performing a genre of music still in a relatively nascent form, world premières may be unavoidable – but Tromba Mundi embraces its mission as ambassador not only for the trumpet ensemble in general, but as champion of the fresh voices and sounds which will become the standard repertoire of the future. In fact, 6 of the 11 works on the CD are being heard for the first time, and the composers’ reactions, included in the liner notes, express unanimous praise for the ensemble, often mentioning that the recordings contained on this disc are the definitive recordings against which others will be measured."

Patrick Valentino, Classical Voice of New England - October 2009

"Even if one happens to be a trumpeter, I imagine, a whole disc of music for trumpet ensemble better be good. Luckily, this one is... [In the Zuckerman] the sheer instrumental control of the members of Tromba Mundi is remarkable; it is difficult to imagine a more persuasive account than this. Ewazen’s Fantasia is bright and breezy. Again, performance is of the very highest standard. Notes are attacked to perfection, with the utmost precision. It is not just the bright attacks [in Bradshaw's Carillon] that make the performance of this piece notable. The scurrying, background figures are played with miraculous legato... A thoroughly enjoyable disc."

Colin Clarke, Fanfare - September / October 2009

"The [Tromba Mundi] recording is excellent, both technically and musically and it includes an interesting selection of both new and vintage pieces. This recording demonstrates the amazing possibilities of the modern trumpet ensemble! Buy it!!”

William Pfund, ITG President, 2007-2009

“[Tromba Mundi] is comprised of some of the best players in the nation. The balance, intonation, blend, and ensemble are fantastic. The choice of repertoire is great---some old favorites and several new and exciting works as well.”

Dave Hickman, Soloist, Regent’s Professor of Trumpet, Arizona State University

“[Tromba Mundi] demonstrates beautiful, well-thought out ensemble playing. The intonation is superb and the interpretations are rock solid. Trumpet aficionados will love this album!”

Anthony Plog, Soloist, Composer, Conductor, Professor of Trumpet / Staatliche Hochschule für Musik, Freiburg, Germany

“This recording of contemporary trumpet repertoire is interesting and exciting, and the playing is absolutely first-rate. An excellent CD for brass aficionados that’s also fun to listen to.”

Pete Bond, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York

Thanks in part to the efforts of the International Trumpet Guild and the National Trumpet Competition at George Mason University, among other organizations and schools, there has been a renaissance in music and interest in the trumpet ensemble. Several of the works on this disc are considered to be standard repertoire in this genre, such as the Lo Presti Suite for five Trumpets, the McGregor Essay for Six Trumpets, the Reynolds Music for Five Trumpets and the Ewazen Fantasia. These pieces, due to their popularity, educational value and wonderful style, have stood the test of time and have made a huge impact in the trumpet world. Other pieces on the disc are newer works and many have sparked interest of late at many competitions and conferences around the globe.

We hope you enjoy the musical journey.

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The Tromba Mundi Trumpet Ensemble was established in 2008 with the idea of promoting chamber music solely for trumpet. With the increased interest of trumpet ensemble in the last few years, the group wanted to give younger audiences a chance to have a recording that would generate new ideas and to give a wider range of audiences an enjoyable performance of some standards  in the repertoire, as well as an introduction of new works that are destined to become some of the most performed music we have available. This prolific group, made-up of professionals and professors from across the United States, has already made a substantial impact in the trumpet world. The players themselves have toured the world as soloists and clinicians, made many diverse recordings, and performed with some of the nation’s leading orchestras, jazz ensembles and artists. From the Chicago Symphony to the Maynard Ferguson Big Band and other ensembles spanning across the globe, Tromba Mundi features some of the finest trumpeters in the nation. The energy and synergy among these performers makes for exciting performances to both see and hear.

www.trombamundi.com

Jerôme Naulais
COCKTAIL

Joseph Price
INTRADA DRAMATICA
Commissioned by Tromba Mundi / World Premiere Recording

Mark Zuckerman
RECOLLECTIONS
Commissioned by Tromba Mundi
World Premiere Recording

Eric Ewazen
FANTASIA

Robert J. Bradshaw
CARILLON
World Premiere Recording

Bernard Andrés
TRIFORIUM

Karim Al-Zand
FANFARE
World Premiere Recording

Verne Reynolds
MUSIC for 5 TRUMPETS

R.R. McGregor
ESSAY for 6 TRUMPETS
World Premiere Recording

Ronald Lo Presti
SUITE for 5 TRUMPETS

Erik Morales
CITYSCAPES
World Premiere Recording