Program Notes and More

Welcome and Program Notes

Welcome to Fanfares and Flourishes! Our program includes a variety of virtuosic concertos and suites from the 17th and 18th centuries. Three of these (by Stradella, Handel, and Telemann) feature our guest artist Kathryn James Adduci on the Baroque trumpet. Telemann is represented not only in the violin/trumpet concerto but also in his delightful Don Quixote suite. Our program begins with a concerto grosso by Corelli, a favorite among our ensemble. We are excited to share this program with you, which also includes "Flourish," a work I composed to celebrate the anniversary of the Lakewood Cultural Center and our vibrant performing arts scene in Colorado.

Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1715) was a famed violinist around whom nearly all musical life in Rome revolved. He not only composed the instrumental music for festivals and concerts of all sorts in the city, but also assembled and directed the musicians involved in such events, with himself as a soloist. The stylistic innovations in his concertos and sonatas made him one of the most important of Baroque composers. The Concerto in D major op 6 no. 4 displays Corelli's ingenuity of the concerto grosso style, in which a small "concertino" group of solo instruments plays in constant alternation with the larger "ripieno" ensemble of strings and continuo instruments.

Alessandro Stradella (1643-1682) lived such a colorful life that several operas have actually been written about him as a subject. Though the details of his life story (involving embezzlement, scandal, constant fleeing, and his eventual assasination) certainly grab our attention, they may occasionally overshadow his accomplishments as a freelance composer of over 300 works in different genres. His Sinfonia on this program is in four movements that together form an introduction for trumpet and strings to the 1681 serenata "Il Barcheggio."

Marco Uccelini (c. 1603-1680) was one of several Italian violinist-composers who developed a style for writing for the violin that expanded the instrument's technical and expressive capabilities. The brief composition "A Gran Battaglia" is a splendid example of a sub-genre of Baroque instrumental music that depicts battle scenes. It is part of his collection Sinfonia Boscarecie, opus 8.

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) is certainly one of the best known Baroque composers today, but his Suite in D major for trumpet and strings is rarely performed. In five movements, the work draws on other Handel compositions, including the celebrated Water Musick. It may actually have been arranged by someone other than Handel during the 1730's, to capitalize on Handel's enormous popularity in London at the time.

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) was one of history's most prolific composers and a contemporary of both Bach and Handel, with whom he shared meaningful friendships. The Don Quixote suite is a delightful depiction of the protagonist of Cervantes' novel. The spirit of Quixote and some of the familiar scenes from the novel are presented by Telemann with humor and warmth.

With such a large output of music, and having to contend with Bach's popularity in today's concert hall, many of Telemann's works are unjustly neglected. The concerto for violin, trumpet and strings to conclude our concert places Telemann's brilliance in the forefront. To me it's a thrilling masterwork, revealing the composer's ingenuity and the virtuosity of the ensemble and soloists... in equal amounts!

Featured Musician

Kathryn James Adduci is a versatile trumpet player who has performed in many countries around the world. A native of Australia, she has performed as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician in numerous groups throughout Australia as well as in orchestras in Malaysia, Canada and her current home country the USA. Highly regarded for her period trumpet performances, Kathryn has been described as “a rare treat”…”a highly skilled trumpeter” (Denver Post), and her playing as “flawless, elegant”…”delicate as that of a flute, yet with all the power and color of brass” (SanDiego.com). She has performed with period instrument groups such as the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (San Francisco), Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra (Toronto), American Bach Soloists (San Francisco), Apollo’s Fire (Cleveland), Bach Collegium San Diego, Atlanta Baroque Orchestra and many more and can be heard on over 20 CDs with repertoire ranging from 1600-2019, including the CD ‘Forte e Dolce’ with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado which features her as the soloist. Formerly the Professor of Trumpet at San José State University for 12 years, Kathryn has also been a trumpet instructor at Tennessee Tech University, Tennessee State University, and the University of Western Australia. She holds a doctoral degree (DMA) from the University of North Texas, a master’s degree (MM) from the University of Georgia, and a bachelor’s degree (BM) from the University of Western Australia.