Suite of Airs
Jeremiah Clarke was a prolific composer for the theatre as well as the church and there are several “Suites of Airs” drawn from his work. This selection is of three “trumpet tunes”, a genre popular in the early eighteenth century. Many were keyboard pieces in a suggestive style, although those presented here probably were intended to be played on the trumpet. Before the famous “Trumpet Voluntary” (long wrongly attributed to Henry Purcell) we hear the less well known “Duke of Gloster’s March” (unusual for having a minuet in the middle!) and a Serenade for the rest of the band minus the cornets. The Prince of Denmark’s March (to give it its correct title) is given a heroic treatment which attests to its universal Englishness, whichever century’s clothes it’s wearing.
Includes parts for F horns and bass clef parts for all the lower brass.