The three-part work draws on pre-baroque music-making practice, in which wind ensembles played concise, short pieces in churches, squares and towers. The subtitles: Intrada - Choral - Toccatina precisely describe the contrasting sequence of movements.
The work for 4 trumpets, 1 horn, 3 trombones, tuba and timpani was written in 2000 and is dedicated to the trumpeter Richard Steuart.

Bertold Hummel

Preface

This three-part work draws on pre-baroque music-making practice, in which wind bands played concise, short pieces in churches, squares and towers. Combined into a kind of suite, the three movements Intrada, Choral and Toccatina follow the common musical principle of fast-slow-fast and thus provide for musical events rich in contrast.

The first movement is characterised by the alternation of variously coupled instrumental groups with tutti blocks in the middle and at the end of the movement.

The second movement is based on a chorale melody from the Geneva Psalter of 1543. Intoned by the trumpets, it is repeatedly interrupted by a striking horn motif and sporadic flashes of filigree figures, mostly on a quiet level.

The third movement concludes the short cycle with virtuoso music that rushes past, leading to three powerful final chords with a slowly building crescendo.

Claus Cornian