Baroque Transcription

EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Paul Merkelo has been the solo trumpet player for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra since 1995. He also has held the same position with the Rochester Philharmonic and New Orleans Symphony and worked with Leonard Bernstein at the Tanglewood music center. He has appeared as soloist numerous times with the American Chamber Orchestra in France. One of this discs highlights, the aria Bist du bei mir (Notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach) was written by Stölzel on an anonymous text that evokes a serene contemplation of death: "Be thou with me and I'll gladly go to death and to my repose." This piece is a great contrast to Handels Sonata, which end with a lively gigue. All movements of the sonata are played on piccolo trumpet, whose brilliant timbre lends the music a certain sparkle and cheerfulness.