Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major, Hob. VIIe:1

Haydn wrote this concerto for his friend Anton Weidinger, a Viennese trumpeter who had just invented a keyed trumpet, one fitted with flute-like keys that allowed it to play a full chromatic scale across all registers, something the natural trumpet could not do. The first movement opens with the orchestra presenting the main theme, and when the trumpet enters playing that same melody, it would have astonished first audiences: the line sits low and moves in steps, both of which were simply impossible on any trumpet that existed before. The slow middle movement exploits the new instrument further by modulating into the remote key of C-flat major, a harmonic detour that only a fully chromatic instrument could navigate.

What to listen for

In the slow movement, listen for the moment the harmony shifts away from the expected A-flat major and moves into C-flat major. The trumpet holds a soft melody through that change, and the color of the key, flat and slightly veiled compared to the bright opening, highlights exactly why this new instrument was a revelation. In the finale, a rondo, notice how Haydn balances brief fanfare-style passages against longer stepwise lines: he is making a point of showing off both the old capabilities of the trumpet and the new ones in the same movement.

Recommended rendition

The 1987 recording by Håkan Hardenberger with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields (Philips) has been frequently cited as a benchmark account of this concerto.

Suggestions are AI-generated. Always verify before purchasing.