The Concerto for Trumpet by Henri Tomasi: an analysis

Abstract

The "Concerto for Trumpet" by Henri Tomasi is a work which has enjoyed increasing popularity in recent years. Two recordings of the concerto have been made by the French performers, André and Thibaud, and while it has been a part of the standard repetoire in France for a number of years, its popularity in the United States has been fairly recent. This concerto has gained a secure place in the trumpet repetoire for American performers, and it has been performed with some frequency at the conventions of the International Trumpet Guild. In spite of the recent interest in this work, very little has been written about the Concerto, and information in the English language on Tomasi's life and musical works is very limited. It is the intention of this study, therefore, to provide a better understanding of the Concerto for Trumpet by Henri Tomasi with the goal of directing the performer toward a more informed and authentic performance of this important work for trumpet. In order to provide a thorough understanding of Tomasi's Concerto, this study will first examine the area of French trumpet music, both orchestral and solo, and its relationship to the work. The second section of this project deals with the life and work of the composer which is followed by an analysis of the Concerto.