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Sonata in D for Trumpet and Strings: Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695): the use of the trumpet

The use of the trumpet would indicate a celebration of some sort (Purcell composed numerous Odes and Welcome Songs for Charles II and James II) and it follows a similar pattern to the twenty or so Sonatas in 3 and 4 parts

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P: How sonatas were similar to concertos

There are many characteristics of this piece which relate well to the concerto which superseded the sonata as the predominant form of instrumental work from 1680 onwards; namely, (a) three movements (fast - slow - fast)

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P: Baroque Trumpet

The Baroque trumpet was a natural instrument with no valves. Most were pitched in the key of D (the celebratory tonality). The ‘clarino’ register required a different type of mouthpiece with a shallower cup and a sharper edge.

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P: The sections of Movement 1

The first movement is just 29 bars long with most performances lasting only about 75 seconds. It can be divided into three main sections: A bars 1 - 111, B bars 112 -19, C bars 20 - 29

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P: Mov1 Bars 1-3

Section A is built entirely on motif a. The trumpet sets the fanfare-like mood of the movement from the start with this characteristic rhythmic pattern, emphasising the tonic and dominant notes and adding a upper auxiliary on the second semiquaver.

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P: Mov1 Bars 4-6

repeat the material exactly, but for two essential differences; a) the violin takes the melody with the trumpet tacet and b) the melody is a fourth lower and, after the opening bar of tonic harmony, the music modulates to the dominant, A major.

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