Title
Festive Arias for Mezzo-soprano, trumpet and piano Volumes 1 & 2 Arranged by David CooperBiographical Info
Festive Arias vol. 1
Trumpet player, teacher and arranger David Cooper has selected five of the most popular arias for soprano/mezzo-soprano and arranged them to include trumpet parts. The arias include:
“Alleluja” from Exsultate, Jubilate by W.A.Mozart
“Laudamus te” from Mass in C minor by Mozart
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“Let the Bright Seraphim” from Sampson by Handel
“O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion” from Messiah by Handel
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“Rejoice Greatly” also from Messiah
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The Alleluia and Let the Bright Seraphim are in two keys in order to make them available for both sopranos and mezzo-sopranos.
This collection includes a CD that contains a full performance track, a track with only piano and trumpet to allow the singer to practice, and a track with only piano and voice to allow the trumpet to practice. When an aria is in two keys, both keys are available with piano and trumpet.
The performance on the CD includes Metropolitan Opera Mezzo-Soprano, Kitt Reuter-Foss, University of Wisconsin pianist, Martha Fisher and University of Wisconsin – Platteville trumpet professor, David Cooper.
Festive Arias vol. 2
Festive Arias vol. 1 was created and published seven years ago. Since that time, the first book has become a must have for singers, trumpet players and music directors. This second book picks up where the first one left off and provides arias for Christmas, Easter, weddings, and general festive occasions.
Volume 2 includes:
“Qui sedes ad dexteram” from Vivaldi Gloria
“Quia respexit” from Bach Magnificat
“Et exultavit spiritus meus” from Bach Magnificat
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“Esurientes implevit bonis” from Bach Magnificat
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“Jesu, Joy on Man’s Desiring” from Bach Cantata 147
“I Know That My Redeemer Liveth” from Handel Messiah
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“Va godendo” from Handel Xerxes
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The music is presented in piano score and trumpet parts in Bb and C.
A Performance/Accompaniment CD is included with this book to facilitate both practice and performance. For each song there is a full performance track, a track with piano and trumpet only so the singer can practice, and a track with piano and vocals only so the trumpet player can practice. The CD can also be used in performance.
The performance on the CD includes Metropolitan Opera Mezzo-Soprano, Kitt Reuter-Foss, pianist, Christina Lalog, and University of Wisconsin – Platteville trumpet professor, David Cooper.
Suggested Equipment
The parts are written for a C or Bb trumpet. (Bright Seraphim in D is the original piccolo trumpet part with my ornamentation suggestions.)
I used Monette C937, Shakti Bb and Kanstul piccolo trumpets for Volume 1.
I used an Eclipse C and Bb trumpet for Volume 2.
Practice/Performance Tips
As a trumpet player, I have always enjoyed working with vocalists. (I am married to a phenomenal jazz vocalist!) There is so much we can learn from working with a great singer; phrasing, breathing, posture, presentation… In an effort to come up with more opportunities to work with classical singers I put together Festive Arias Volume 1. That one has done well enough to warrant a second volume. I can only hope for more!
The challenge as a trumpet player with these collections is forgetting you are a trumpet player. Many of the lines you will be playing were originally violin, flute or oboe parts. Additionally, when you are not the soloist, you need to play VERY accompanimentally in order to balance the voice and piano. The challenge is well worth the effort though, as this feels and acts like great chamber music when done right.
Suggested Recordings
Both of these volumes can be purchased at my business site, DavidCooperMusic.com. Go to Store>Books. The volumes can also be purchased in pdf format without the accompanying CD.
