Maurice André Edition – Volume 4 - Suites, Dances and Arrangements
Maurice André (trumpet)
rec. 1963-82
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 67606-2 [6 CDs: 78:18 + 78:39 + 79:45 +78:52 + 77:32 + 76:10]

Warner’s Maurice André edition of re-releases has reached volume 4, and after the deluge of concertos, sonatas and the like we have arrived at a box devoted to suites, dances and arrangements. To be specific, and this may indicate whether you’re too hifalutin’ for this one, we have arrangements for trumpet, organ, double-bass and drums, opera arrangements and aria re-workings, works for trumpet and harp, Christmas Carols, folksongs, Bach arias and choruses, seventeenth and eighteenth century trumpet works - but not concertos, these are canzonas and Sinfonias in the main - festive works and dances.

This is a pretty mixed bunch. One moment you’re listening to some pretty obviously Jacques Loussier-inspired bit from J.S.B. and the next you’re digging a Pavane by Gervase by way of a trumpet version of Schubert’s The Trout. So, let’s get some order to this madness.

The first disc contains those ‘swingin’ the baroque’ arrangements so beloved of Parisians in particular. There’s more than a hint of the cigar ad in these, as Loussier meets Procul Harum in a swirl of wacky-baccy. Jesu, der du meine Seele is treated to helter-skelter drum badinage, but I think the cymbal rim-shots in Winter from The Four Seasons are one catastrophe too far. Did people really listen to all this stuff back at the fag end of the 1960s and early 1970s? If you want to go beyond parody listen to Jean-Michel Defaye and what he does with his baroque pastiches. And as if that’s not enough there’s a kiddies chorus on hand to serenade you with Jingle Bells and Sur le Pont d’Avignon.

The second disc is much better and focuses on opera arrangements played with breathtaking panache by André. Like a super-virtuosic hero of the late nineteenth century, he unleashes an amazing torrent of brilliance. His Arban Theme and Variations rivals Dizzy Gillespie in its stratospheric demands, and he revels in the Technicolor drama of Lehár’s The Land of Smiles. Breath control is no hindrance in the sustained legato of Lakmé. A number of the pieces are conducted by Claude Pichaureau, and Andre plays either bugle or cornet, not trumpet. This disc is augmented by extracts from Telemann cantatas in which the trumpeter has a prominent role. These 1966 recordings are directed by Karl Ristenpart.

Disc 3 reprises the operatic in 1977 recordings conducted by Marc Soustrot, whose recordings also appear in the earlier disc as well. If you want to hear the trumpet take on two of the Queen of the Night’s arias, here is your chance. The rest of the disc is given over trumpet and harp arrangements by Defaye. The harpist is Joëlle Bernard. These involve, to put it mildly, questions of personal taste. I find the Chopin Etude arrangement plain weird, and the Moonlight Sonata opening movement a piece of kitsch, but the Purcell Trumpet Tune No.3 swings along merrily in a salonish kind of a way.

Christmas carols and folksongs occupy disc four. It sounds like there was some serious overdubbing in this November 1980 date – lots of tinkling harpsichord added to the salon band and choir mix. As before there are more ‘serious’ things here too – more extracts from full works, the Bach Magnificat in D major and from the cantata Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen; the former with Michel Corboz from the early 1970s, the latter with Gustav Leonhardt and recorded in 1966. I rather wonder whether it would have been better to group all these genuine extracts from Bach and Telemann together rather than intersperse them throughout the discs; though it’s possible that this was a space saving necessity given that all six discs are packed to the gills.

Disc five covers mainly Italian brass music of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Conductor Tito Gotti is on hand for many of these with his Bologna orchestral forces in performances recorded in the mid-1960s. There’s great amplitude in these pieces by Gabrieli, Cazzati, Aldrovandini, Caldara, Torelli and their confreres. André is joined by some excellent trumpet colleagues to produce performances of considerable stature and grace. The Vitali-attributed Sinfonia is especially stunning, though the antiphonal effects of Torelli’s Concerto are no less remarkable. The French repertoire is also covered – Lully, Charpentier and Corette in 1963 recordings with Paillard, a frequent collaborator in the recording studios. To end this disc there is another series of extracts from a cantata, in this case Scarlatti’s Su le sponde del Tebro.

The final disc excavates the 1963 LP he made of Renaissance Dances and also allied music. Everything here is with Paillard. These are all highly enjoyable, not least the outstanding performances of Delalande’s Concert and the Premier Caprice. We also hear the second Water Music suite and Francœur’s Symphonies, extracts of which were recorded back in 1963. This last disc is certainly excellently played, companionably accompanied and finely recorded.

So, quite obviously, this is a very multi-disciplinary boxed set. I have to admit that, excesses and money-spinning embarrassments aside, I enjoyed it greatly, though it’s not for everyone and I have the critic’s privilege of not having to buy it. Purists should stick to the earlier boxes. This one is for those broad of mind, light of heart, and promiscuously admiring of the venerable French trumpeter.

Jonathan Woolf

 

Full Tracklist

Maurice Andre Edition – Volume 4; Suites, Dances and Arrangements
DISC 1 (Trompettissimo)
J.S. Bach
(1685-1750)
1. Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major (BWV 1068)
2. Gavotte from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major (BWV 1068)
3. Aria-Duet from cantata “Jesu, der du meine Seele” (BWV 78)
4. Badinerie from Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor (BWV 1067)
5. Chorale from cantata “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” (BWV 140)
6. Bourrées I and II from Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor (BWV 1067)
Antonio Vivaldi
(1678-1741)
7. Largo from Violin Concerto in F minor, Op. 8, No. 4, “Winter” (The Four Seasons)
Traditional Melodies
8. J’ai du bon tabac
9. La mere Michel
10. Le petit Quinquin
11. Greensleeves
12. Hop! Voila mon échelle
13. Stille Nacht
14. L’amour de moi
Maurice André (trumpet), Wolfgang Karius (organ), Guy Pedersen (double-bass), Gus
Wallez (drums)
tr. 1-11, 13-14 arranged by Jean-Michel Defaye
tr. 12 arranged by Jean-Michel Defaye, V. Villien, C. Laydu
from AL 3502 (issued 1970)/EFM 18009
J.S. Bach
15. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major (BWV 1048)
Benedetto Marcello
(1686-1739)
16. Adieu à Venise (Anonimo Veneziano)
Arcangelo Corelli
(1653-1713)
17. Allemande
Jean-Michel Defaye
(1932- )
18. Mélancolie
19. Sur un air de Bach
George Frideric Handel
(1685-1759)
20. Allegro
J.S. Bach
21. Aria 33 (arr. from an aria in C major)
Jean-Michel Defaye
22. Fugatissimo
Handel
23. Air (Water Music)
Benedetto Marcello
24. Final
Handel
25. Concerto grosso
26. Bourrée
Domenico Cimarosa
(1749-1801)
27. Mélodie
Defaye
28. Sur un air de Corelli
Maurice André (trumpet), Jean-Marc Pulfer (organ), Guy Pedersen (double-bass), Gus
Wallez (drums)
from AL 3504 (issued 1971)/EFM 18010
29. Sur Le Pont d'Avignon
30. Jingle Bells

DISC 2 (Belle Epoque)
Jean-Baptiste Arban
(1825-1889)
1. Theme et Variations sur le “Carnaval de Venise”
cadenza by Maurice André
2. Fantaisie Brillante
Alexandre Sylvain Petit
(1864-1925)
3. Goutte d’Eau (Editions Andrieu Frères, Paris)
Giuseppe Verdi
(1813-1901)
4. La Traviata
Variations by Jean-Baptiste Arban; cadenza by Maurice André
Alexandre Sylvain Petit
5. Fête Militaire (Editions Gaudet, Paris)
6. Myrto Polka (Editions Gaudet, Paris)
7. Madeleine
Maurice André (bugle and cornet), Orchestre d’Harmonie des Gardiens de la Paix de
Paris conducted by Claude Pichaureau
tr. 1-2, 4, 7 arranged and orchestrated by Claude Pichaureau (unpublished)
Franz Lehar
(1870-1948)
8. Das Land des Lächelns (The Land of Smiles) (Editions Eschig)
Air “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” (Prince Sou-Chong)
Leo Delibes
(1836-1891)
9. Lakmé
Air des clochettes: “Où va la jeune Hindoue?” arr. Jean-Michel Defaye
Georges Bizet
(1838-1875)
10. Les Pêcheurs de Perles
Romance: “Je crois entendre encore” (Nadir) arr. Jean-Michel Defaye
Maurice André (trumpet), Orchestre National de l’Opéra de Monte-Carlo conducted
by Marc Soustrot
rec. February 1982 Eglise Notre Dame du Liban, Paris (tr.1-8)
June 1977 Opéra de Monte-Carlo
Georg Philipp Telemann
(1681-1767)
11. Chorus “Heilig, heilig, heilig ist Gott” (for the dedication of the Church of the
Holy Trinity, St. Georg; Hamburg, 1747) (03’55”)
Maurice André (trumpet), Chorale Philippe Caillard, Sarre Radio Chamber Orchestra
conducted by Karl Ristenpart
rec. 1 May 1966, Notre-Dame du Liban, Paris
from Erato STU 70328
12. Aria “O Freuden getöne (O joyful sounds) from Christmas cantata “Allein Gott in
der Höh sei Ehr” (04’39”)
Barry McDaniel (bass), Maurice André (trumpet), Sarre Radio Chamber Orchestra
conducted by Karl Ristenpart
rec. 1 May 1966, Notre-Dame du Liban, Paris
from Erato STU 70328

DISC 3 (Opera Arias / Trumpet and Harp)
Vincenzo Bellini
(1801-1835)
1. Norma
Cavatina “Casta Diva, che inargenti” (Norma)
from STU 71132
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756-1791)
2. Die Zauberflöte, K. 620
Aria “Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinen Herzen” (Queen of the Night)
3. Aria “O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn (Queen of the Night)
from STU 71132
Gioacchino Rossini
(1792-1868)
4. Il barbiere de Siviglia
Cavatina “Una voce poco fa” (Rosina)
5. Cavatina “Ecco, ridente in cielo” (Count Almaviva) arr. Jean-Michel Defaye
from STU 71132
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
6. Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K. 384
Air: “Martern aller Arten (Konstanze, Act 2) arr. Jean-Michel Defaye
Maurice André (trumpet), Orchestre National de l’Opéra de Monte-Carlo conducted
by Marc Soustrot
rec. 23 and 24 June 1977 Monte-Carlo Opera House
from STU 71132
Robert Schumann
(1810-1856)
7. Rêverie
Frédéric Chopin
(1810-1849)
8. Étude No. 3
Franz Liszt
(1811-1886)
9. Rêve d’Amour
Giovanni Battista Martini
(1706-1784)
10. Romance Célèbre
Edvard Grieg
(1843-1907)
11. Erotikon
William Boyce
(1710-1779)
12. Trumpet Tune No. 3
Henry Purcell
(1659-1695)
13. Trumpet Tune No. 4
Gioacchino Rossini
14. Air from The Barber of Seville
J.S. Bach
15. Largo from Sonata No. 3 in C major for unaccompanied violin (BWV 1005)
Hector Berlioz
(1803-1869)
16. Valse des Sylphes
Johannes Brahms
(1833-1897)
17. Valse
Ludwig van Beethoven
(1770-1827)
18. Adagio from Piano Sonata in C sharp minor (Op. 27, No. 2) “Moonlight Sonata”
J.S. Bach
19. Presto from Sonata No. 2 in A major for violin and harpsichord (BWV 1015)
George Frideric Handel
20. Allegro from Sonata in E major for violin and continuo (Op. 1, No. 15/HWV 373)
Antonio Vivaldi
21. Allegro (Movt. 1) from Concerto in D major for oboe and strings (RV 435)
22. Allegro non molto (Movt. 1) from Concerto in A minor for oboe and strings (RV
461)
George Frideric Handel
23. Allegro (Movt. 2) from Sonata in F major for violin and continuo (Op. 1, No.
12/HWV 370)
Maurice André (trumpet), Joëlle Bernard (harp); arrangements by Jean-Michel Defaye
rec. November 1978 and May 1980, Eglise de Grisy-Suisnes and Eglise Notre-Dame
du Liban, Paris
from STU

DISC 4 (Trumpet and Flute / Bach)
[from “Les Plus Beaux Noëls: ECD 88160 or 2292-45159-2]
1. Il est né, le Divin Enfant
2. Stille Nacht (Franz Gruber, 1818)
3. Les Bergerettes (18c.)
4. Marche des Rois Mages (traditional)
5. Süsser die Glocken nie Klingen (Rhine valley)
6. White Christmas (Irving Berlin)
7. Es ist ein Ros’entsprungen (Michael Praetorius)
8. Noël des Petits Santons (Noël de Provence)
9. Les Anges dans nos Campagnes
10. O Tannenbaum
11. Adeste Fideles (J.F. Wade, 1740)
12. Minuit Chrétien (Adolphe Adam, 1803-1856)
13. Or vous Trémoussez (Poitou, 15c.)
14. Als ich meinen schafen wacht (Rhine valley)
15. Venez Divin Messie (traditional, 1745)
16. On entend partout Carillon (Noël du Berry, 17c.)
Maurice André (trumpet), Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Laurent directed by Abbé
Zurfluh, Orchestra conducted by François Rauber, arrangements by François Rauber
rec. November 1980 Studio Davout, Paris from STU 70142 [Producer Michel Garcin,
Engineer Philippe Omnes]
17. La Truite (arr. François Rauber
Maurice André (bugle), Harmonie Municipale d’Alès conducted by Claude Lagrange
rec. September 1981, Théâtre d’Alès (Gard) from ERA 9243 [Producer Michel
Garcin, Engineer Yolanta Skura]
18. Le Chant des Adieux (arr. François Rauber)
Maurice André (trumpet), Harmonie Municipale d’Alès conducted by Claude
Lagrange
rec. September 1981, Théâtre d’Alès (Gard) from ERA 9243 [Producer Michel
Garcin, Engineer Yolanta Skura]
19. Oh Bellos Montagnos (arr. François Rauber)
Maurice André (cornet), Harmonie Municipale d’Alès conducted by Claude Lagrange
rec. September 1981, Théâtre d’Alès (Gard) from ERA 9243 [Producer Michel
Garcin, Engineer Yolanta Skura]
20. Kein schoner Land )
21. Die Blumenlein )
J.S. Bach
(1685-1750)
Magnificat in D major (BWV 243): excerpts
22. Chorus: Magnificat
(03’07”)
23. Chorus: Fecit potentiam (01’54”)
24. Chorus: Gloria
(01’50”)
Maurice André (trumpet), Ensemble Vocal de Lausanne, Lausanne Chamber
Orchestra conducted by Michel Corboz
Producer Michel Garcin, Engineers Guy Laporte, Peter Willemoes
from STU 70710
J.S. Bach
Cantata: Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen (BWV 51): excerpts
25. Aria: “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen” (04’53”)
26. Chorale: “Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren” (06’35”)
27. (Aria) Alleluja
Agnès Giebel (soprano), Maurice André (trumpet), Jaap Schröder, Jacques Holtmann
(violins), Anner Bylsma (cello), Concerto Amsterdam directed by Gustav Leonhardt
rec. January 1966, Benebroek, Holland
Executive Producer Wolf Erichson
from Teldec SAWT 9513

DISC 5
Henry Purcell
(1659-1695)
1. Trumpet Voluntary (arr. Jörg Faerber) (02’43”)
Maurice André (trumpet), Württemberg Chamber Orchestra, Heilbronn, conducted by
Jörg Faerber
rec. 1981
Producer Michel Garcin
from STU 71383
Giovanni Gabrieli
(1557-1612)
2. Canzona XVII à 12 (Canzoni e sonate, Venice, 1615) (03’12”)
3. Canzona IX à 8 (Sacrae Symphoniae, Venice, 1597) (03’51”)
4. Canzona VII and VIII à 12 (Sacrae Symphoniae, Venice, 1597) (02’42”)
Maurice André, Marcel Lagorce, Charles de Antoni (trumpets), Orchestra del Teatro
Communale di Bologna conducted by Tito Gotti
rec. May 1965, Basilica San Petronio, Bologna
Producer Michel Garcin, Engineer Peter Willemoes
from STU 70274
Maurizio Cassati
(c.1620-1677)
5. Sonata à 5 “La Bianchina” for trumpet, strings and continuo (04’23”)
Allegro-Grave-Allegro-Vivace-Vivace
from STU 70275
Domenico Gabrielli
(1651-1690)
6. Sonata à 4 and 5 for trumpet, strings and continuo (05’28”)
Allegro-Grave-Presto presto-Grave-Presto
rec. May 1965, Bologna Basilica San Petronio
Producer Michel Garcin, Engineer Peter Willemoes
from STU 70275
Domenico Gabrielli
7. Sonata à 6 for trumpet, strings and continuo (05’26”)
Maurice André, (trumpet), Bologna Instrumental Ensemble conducted by Tito Gotti
from STU 70218
attr. Tomaso Antonio Vitali
(1663-1745)
8. Sinfonia for two trumpets, two oboes, strings and continuo (05’38”)
Allegro-Grave-Presto-Grave-Allegro
Maurice André, Marcel Lagorce (trumpets), Orchestra del Teatro Communale di
Bologna directed by Tito Gotti
from STU 70275
Giuseppe Aldrovandini
(1672/3-1707)
9. Sinfonia for two trumpets, strings and organ (04’00”)
Allegro-Grave-Allegro
Maurice André, Marcel Lagorce (trumpets), Bologna Instrumental Ensemble
conducted by Tito Gotti
rec.
Producer Michel Garcin, Engineer Peter Willemoes
from STU 70218
10' G Torelli - Concerto a due chori 2 orch 2 trumpets, 2 oboes 12'09
11. G Torelli - Menuet 1'27"
Antonio Caldara
(1670-1738)
12. Sonata à 4 for trumpets, timpani, strings and continuo (05’40”)
Allegro-Andante-Allegro da capo
Jean-Baptiste Lully
(1632-1687)
13. Airs de Trompettes, Timbales et Hautbois: Prélude, Menuet, Gigue
Maurice André (trumpet), Georges Barboten (horn), Maurice Suzan (trombone),
Jacques Rémy (timpani), Ensemble de cuivres de Paris, Quatuor de Trombones de
l’Orchestre de la R.T.F. conducted by Jean-François Paillard
rec. February 1963 Paris, Eglise Saint Michel des Batignolles
Producer Michel Garcin
from STU 70178
Marc-Antoine Charpentier
(1643-1704)
14. Te Deum: Prelude
Maurice André (trumpet), Jean-François Paillard Chamber Orchestra conducted by
Louis Martini
rec. 1963 Paris (?)
Producer Michel Garcin, Engineer Daniel Madelaine
from STU 70164
Michel Corrette
(1707-1795)
15. Divertissement (from Op. 7) fro two trumpets: Ouverture
Maurice André (trumpet), Ensemble de cuivres de Paris conducted by Jean-François
Paillard
rec. February 1963 Paris, Eglise Saint Michel des Batignolles
Producer Michel Garcin
from STU 70178
Alessandro Scarlatti (14’31”)
(1660-1725)
16. Cantata “Su le sponde del Tebro”
Sinfonia, recitative, sinfonia
17. Aria, recitative, largo
18. Aria, ritornello, recitative, aria
Adriana Maliponte (soprano), Maurice André (trumpet), Luciano Sgrizzi
(harpsichord), Societa Cammeristica di Lugano conducted by Edwin Loehrer
rec. 1970
from Erato STU 70533

DISC 6
1. Josquin des Pres (1450-1521) - Fanfares royales pour le sacre de Louis XII (1498) -
1:08
2. Johann Kugelmann (16th century) Nun lob' mein Seel' den Herren (1540) - 2:04
Danceries de la Renaissance Francaise
- 3. Pavane Passemaize et Gaillarde - 1:00 (Claude Gervaise 1555)
- 4. Basse dance - 1:32 (Anonyme 1547)
- 5. Bransle de Bourgongne - 0:36 (Claude Gervaise 1556)
- 6. Bransle de Champaigne - 0:40 (Claude Gervaise 1555)
- 7. Bransle d'Ecosse - 0:26 (Estienne du Tertre 1557)
8. Giovanni Gabrieli (1557-1612) - Sonata pian e forte - 3:09
9. Melchior Franck (1573-1639) - Intrada VII (1608) - 1:29
Music for his Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts for the Restoration of King Charles II
(1660) - Matthew Locke (1630-1677)
- 10. Ayre - 2:13
- 11. Pavane - 1:19
Johann Pezel (1636-1694)
- 12. Sonata (1670) - 2:07
- 13. Sarabande (1685) - 1:45
- 14. Bal (1685) - 0:52
Michel-Richard Delalande
(1657-1726)
Concert de trompettes pour les Festes sur le canal de Versailles
15. Premier air – Deuxième air
16. Chaconne en écho
17. Premier menuet
18. Deuxième menuet, trio de hautbois
19. Air en écho, fanfare
Maurice André (trumpet I), Jean-François Paillard Chamber Orchestra conducted by
Jean-François Paillard
rec. 8-9 October 1963 Paris, Eglise Notre-Dame de Liban
from STU 70185
Michel-Richard Delalande
Premier Caprice ou Caprice de Villers-Cotterets
20. Fièrement et détaché; Gracieusement; Un peu plus gay; Vite
21. Gracieusement, sans lenteur; Vif
22. Trio; Deuxième air neuf
23. Vivement; doucement, vivement
Maurice André (trumpet I), Jean-François Paillard Chamber Orchestra conducted by
Jean-François Paillard
rec. 8-9 October 1963 Paris, Eglise Notre-Dame de Liban
Producer Michel Garcin, Engineer Daniel Madelaine
from STU 70185
Georg Frideric Handel
(1685-1759)
Water Music: Suite No. 2 in D major (HWV 349)
24. (Allegro)
25. Alla Hornpipe
26. Menuet
27. Lentement
28. Bourrée
Maurice André, Bernard Soustrot (trumpets), Jean-François Paillard Chamber
Orchestra conducted by Jean-François Paillard
from STU 70773
François Francoeur
(1698-1787)
Symphonies pour le Festin royal de Monseigneur Le Comte d’Artois: Suite No. 4
(excerpts)
(20’15”)
29. Menuet I – Menuet II
30. Entrée de chasseurs
31. Menuet gracieux de M. Rameau
32. Air tender de M. Francoeur
33. Air en rondeau
34. Musette de M. Mondonville
35. Rondeau de M. Mondonville
36. Rondeau de M. Francoeur
37. Rondeau gay de M. Francoeur
Maurice André (trumpet), Jean-François Paillard Chamber Orchestra conducted by
Jean-François Paillard
rec. June 1963 Paris, Eglise Notre-Dame de Liban
Producer Michel Garcin
from STU 70316
all rec. between 1963-82
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 67606-2 [6 CDs: 78:18 + 78:39 + 79:45 +78:52 + 77:32 + 76:10]


For those broad of mind, light of heart, and promiscuously admiring of the venerable French trumpeter.