Trumpet Consort Matthias Höfs

• Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 - 1759): Concerto F Major HWV 333:
• 1 Händel: Concerto F Major HWV 333: I. Pomposo 02:21
• 2 Händel: Concerto F Major HWV 333: VI. A tempo ordinario 03:04
• 3 Händel: Concerto F Major HWV 333: III. A tempo giusto 02:56
• Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 - 1767): Concerto No. 2 in D Major TWV 40:202:
• 4 Telemann: Concerto No. 2 in D Major TWV 40:202: I. Adagio 02:37
• 5 Telemann: Concerto No. 2 in D Major TWV 40:202: II. Grave 01:57
• 6 Telemann: Concerto No. 2 in D Major TWV 40:202: III. Allegro 01:30
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791): Andante in F Major, K. 616:
• 7 Mozart: Andante in F Major, K. 616 07:17
• Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893): The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a:
• 8 Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: Miniature Overture 03:20
• Erik Morales (b. 1966): Infinite Ascent:
• 9 Morales: Infinite Ascent 08:06
• Stanley Meyers (1930 - 1993): The Deer Hunter:
• 10 Meyers: The Deer Hunter: Cavatina 03:59
• Erik Morales: With Praise, We Sing:
• 11 Morales: With Praise, We Sing: 1. Deep River 03:10
• 12 Morales: With Praise, We Sing: 2. Ride on, King Jesus / Where you There? 08:13
• Fred Ahlert (1892 - 1953): I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a Letter:
• 13 Ahlert: I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a Letter 02:36
• Total Runtime 51:06

Info for Trumpet Consort

For his new album ‘Trumpet Consort’, renowned trumpeter Matthias Höfs has brought together a whole two dozen trumpet players. In addition to current students of his trumpet class at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre, they include alumni who are already members of important German orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra. They have come together to celebrate the rich sound of their instrument - the trumpet.

Under the direction of Matthias Höfs, the musicians on this recording span a wide stylistic range from baroque, classical and romantic to modern. They illustrate the development of the instrument and its growing range of applications through the various stylistic periods. The album begins in the Baroque era, a time when the trumpet still had no valves and was limited to natural tones. Nevertheless, the baroque trumpet has a special festive character, which is wonderfully emphasised in the Concerto in F major by G.F. Handel. The invention of the valve in the 19th century made it possible to play chromatic scales and significantly expanded the trumpet's tonal colour palette. A modern trumpet is therefore necessary for P.I. Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite.

Matthias Höfs, who is not only known as an outstanding trumpeter but also as a committed university teacher, recognises the high educational added value of this project and the great creative power that results from the combination of different talents. ‘Our professionals such as André Schoch, Manuel Mischel, Johannes Bartmann and Hyeonjun Lee, who are all already internationally recognised musicians, bring their experience and expertise to the ensemble, which is an invaluable learning opportunity for the younger members,’ explains Matthias Höfs. ‘One particularly enjoys playing the piccolo trumpet, the other favours the flugelhorn. This diversity of preferences and abilities is reflected in the arrangements that I have written especially for this line-up,’ he continues. Matthias Höfs emphasises these individual strengths, particularly in the solo passages. His arrangements bring out the full potential of a pure trumpet ensemble and make full use of the trumpet's tonal possibilities. Despite focussing on one instrument, he succeeds in creating an interesting and multi-faceted sound. Works that were originally written for strings or other instrumental groups require special sensitivity when arranged for trumpet. ‘A good example of this is our interpretation of Telemann's Concerto No. 2 in D major, which was originally written for four violins. The challenge was to transfer the delicate and fast passages, which are characteristic of strings, to the trumpet without the music losing its original charm,’ explains Matthias Höfs. The ensemble achieves this above all through precise articulation and exceptional technical mastery of the instruments. Another example is the arrangement of W.A. Mozart's Andante in F major, which was originally written for organ rolls. ‘It was fascinating to adapt this music for our ensemble and replace the mechanical precision of the organ roll with the organic playing of our trumpets,’ says Matthias Höfs. The selection of pieces from both modern and historical works gives the students the opportunity to expand their stylistic range and the associated technical requirements. This makes a valuable contribution to the training of future trumpet players.

Matthias Höfs is particularly proud of the contemporary compositions by Erik Morales ‘With Praise, We Sing’ and ‘Infinite Ascent’ as well as the arrangement ‘The Deer Hunter’ by Peter Lawrence. ‘We are honoured that these composers, who share our passion for the sound of the trumpet, have written such outstanding pieces for our ensemble,’ he enthuses.

Matthias Höfs and his Trumpet Consort impressively demonstrate that a trumpet-based line-up is anything but boring. ‘Trumpet Consort’ offers an insight into the development of the trumpet and captivates with the variety of trumpet sounds in impressive and technically demanding arrangements. The album also shows the creative power that can arise from the combination of so many talents. More trumpet is not possible!

Matthias Höfs, trumpet
Matthias Höfs Trumpet Ensemble

Matthias Höfs
By the age of six, Matthias Höfs declared the trumpet his instrument, “because it shines so nicely”. He received his musical education from Professor Peter Kallensee at Hamburg University of Music and Theatre, as well as from Professor Konradin Groth at the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Just being eighteen years old, Höfs was already engaged as solo-trumpeter at the Philharmonic State Orchestra in Hamburg, where he enjoyed the fascinating world of opera for sixteen years. At the same time, Höfs became a member of the GERMAN BRASS Ensemble, with whom he continues to achieve worldwide successes. Since their first joint concert in 1985, he has been writing costumized and innovative arrangements for his colleagues and himself, which span more than one genre and continue to inspire the world of brass. Matthias Höfs always proved to be a pioneering spirit by consistently widening the horizon of his instrument. These continuous developments are encouraged by a close cooperation with other composers, who feel themselves inspired by his incomparable virtuosity and joy of experimentation. Additionally inspired by his position as “trumpet ambassador” in his home state Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany as well as the cooperation with the instrument makers Max and Heinrich Thein.

Starting in 2000, Matthias Höfs has been teaching as a Professor at Hamburg University of Music and Theatre, where he continues to inspire his students with enthusiasm, passion for his instrument, and great knowledge. In addition to his extensive concert performances as solo-trumpeter and chamber musician, Höfs recorded numerous solo-albums, as well as over twenty recordings with GERMAN BRASS.

This album contains no booklet.