Sound the Trumpet: Royal Music of Purcell & Handel

Alison Balsom is marvelous on the trumpet with both Handel and Purcell. It’s pleasing to the ear.

I bought this after watching a very well done youtube exposition in which Alison Balsom speaks to us, looking directly into the camera and is filmed thinking, imagining her playing, reacting to the orchestra, in conference as well as practicing alone and with ensemble. She has an extremely lovely smile which is on film again and again and her playing is sublime. I would recommend to anyone who is interested that you watch the youtube specifically titled Sound of the Trumpet by Alison Balsom. You will appreciate the person who is playing even more and your anticipation at the prospect of hearing entire pieces with her playing will be heightened. A head up: When I received the CD I was a bit disappointed that the first piece doesn't highlight her trumpet playing. It's a perfectly acceptable baroque piece but, were it not for the remainder of the CD, one would ask, "Why is this CD titled, "Sound of the Trumpet?" I don't know what they were thinking when they did that, first impressions and all. But throughout the remainder of the CD her playing is predominant and wonderfully sublime. Once she begins to play even the fidelity of the CD becomes top notch. In spite of my disappointment with the first piece I'm giving "Sound of the Trumpet" and especially Alison Balsom five stars. I'd go a long way to hear her play in person.

This was a beautiful RE-recording of PURCELL'S "Come, Come Ye Sons of Art" with counter-tenor I had on an old Mono 10 Lp. bought in late '50s....This recording by A Balsom is of course FAR superior in many ways than the old with a Dynamite counter-tenor, and the trumpet with no valves..Plus the English Concert w/Pinnock...The horn played by by likely the most gifted and influential trumpeter/?trumpetess? now recording..This MUSICIAN is FABULOUS with an 'Ear and Lip like few, if any other. She's improved even more since her earlier recordings, and they were super.She plays 'em all....Is there with the all-time greatest: M. Andre'..

Excellent interpretations of music that I am mostly ignorant of. Her reinterpretation of pieces written for the Oboe are masterful. There is no sense of being the wrong instrument and they appear to have been originally written for the trumpet.

Anyone who appreciates good trumpet playing should enjoy this CD.

If you like classical music and trumpet you’ll love her flawless interpretations

Alison Balsom has come out with another wonderfully fine recording. Sound the Trumpet features music of Purcell and Handel in arrangements by Ms. Balsom and Trevor Pinnock. This is the first of her recordings that involve a collaboration with the English Consort under the direction of Trevor Pinnock. I hope that this collaboration results in several more recordings of the baroque repertoire like this one. The performance is all on period instruments, including Ms. Balsom on natural trumpets. Despite not having a valved instrument, the intonation is impeccable and stylistically elegant. Ms. Balsom's playing sounds effortless, when in fact what she is performing is barely possible. Buy the album, put it on and feel regal.

There is something about Alison's playing. The way she tongues each note, it is very very clean, with out the typical rasp a trumpet creates when it's tongued. It was rather refreshing to listen to her play. Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (Eternal Source of Light Divine)HWV 74 just has me in awe each time I listen to it. The way the cantor sings and then the trumpet comes in from behind and lifts up the sounds is just something! Her sound is just so pure, I really don't know how else to describe it. My next CD is going to be Alison Balsom Italian Concertos [Compilation], can't wait to get it!

Was a gift and the recipient is very pleased with it

Baroque music at it's best! By an artist most talented and beautiful. If you love the classical trumpet, this is a go to album.

Alison Bolsom ist eine fantastische Interpretin dieser schönen alten Musik

Sono un estimatore della musica barocca e questo disco ha soddisfatto pienamente le mie aspettative.

Una selección acertada de obras con y para trompeta clásica ,un deleite para los oídos .