This program is a triptych of songs of love and war, from Spain, England and Italy from the turn of the 18th century for Baroque trumpet, soprano and basso continuo.  The sociopolitical situation of the period gave impetus for composers to take their subject matter to the battle fields.    The militaristic trumpet was also known as the tromba d’amore and therefore was an effective weapon for depicting the war of love.  Whether conquering a land or a heart, composers used the trumpet in strong and equal partnership with the soprano.  The trumpets pomposity could bring forth nationalistic sentiment or, with its lyrical attributes, beguile Amor to wage wars.  Each nation’s panel is painted with its own brush, but shades and colors of the others can be detected with regard to the formal architecture as well as the general affect of the pieces.  Together, they present a coherent picture of countries proud of their national identity, yet not so proud as to exclude an exchange of artistic ideas and influences.   

PART ONE: SPAIN

Gaspar Sanz (1645-1715)
Fanfare para trompeta

Trumpet, basso continuo

Juan Arañés (?-1649)
Chacona

Soprano, basso continuo

Sebastiàn Durón (1660-1716)
Animoso denuedo guerrero from La Guerra de los Gigantes (1713-1716)
Trumpet, soprano, basso continuo

Gaspar Sanz
Marizápalos

Guitar

Sebastiàn Durón
Sosieguen descansen from Salir el amor del mundo
Soprano, basso continuo

Joaquín Martínez de la Roca
Que siendo a mis iras from Los Desagravios de Troya
Trumpet, soprano, basso continuo

Gaspar Sanz
Jacaras from Instrucción de música sobre la guitarra española
Guitar

Joaquín Martínez de la Roca
Suonin’ le trombe from Los Desagravios de Troya
Trumpet, soprano, basso continuo

PART TWO: ENGLAND

.William Croft (1678-1727)
Ground in c minor

Harpsichord

Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
O solitude!
Soprano, basso continuo

Henry Purcell
The Genius of England from Songs to the New Play of Don Quixote (1694/95)
Trumpet, soprano, basso continuo

Cupid, the slyest rogue alive from The Theatre of Music (1685)
Soprano, basso continuo

Matthew Locke (1621/22-1677)
Suite in C major
Harpsichord

Henry Purcell
Hark! The Ecchoing Air a Triumph Sings from Orpheus Britannicus
Soprano, basso continuo

To Arms, heroic Prince from Orpheus Britannicus
Trumpet, soprano, basso continuo

PART THREE:  ITALY

Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)
Si Riscaldi il Tebro

Trumpet, soprano, continuo

Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)
Credete al mio dolore from Alcina (1735)
Soprano, cello, basso continuo

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Sonata in B-flat Major, RV 47
Cello, basso continuo

Alessandro Melani (1639-1703)
All’armi pensieri
Trumpet, soprano, continuo

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