On the subject of musical arrangements, I am somewhat ambivalent. While no one would dream of exhibiting a Titian or a Watteau covered with a light pink, transparent plastic, much less rearrange the figures in the scene, we readily change the coloration and even the format of musical works without a thought. On the other hand, sometimes they reveal aspects of the work you wouldn't have otherwise noticed. (Walter/Wendy Carlos offered up such a revelation for me in the third Brandenburg concerto.) That doesn't necessarily happen here, but I did find the program and the performances quite enjoyable. Still, with all the unrecorded original trumpet music on hand (Torelli, for example), I wonder at the need for programs like this.

For the record the headnotes above reflect the music as played and noted. The Bellini and Corelli seem to be the real McCoy, but the Tessarini, Albinoni, and Tartini are arrangements by Jean Thilde, a musician who did a lot of this sort of thing in the first half of this century. While no credit is given for the transcription, the "Benedetto" Marcello Concerto in C Minor was originally an oboe concerto by Alessandro Marcello in D Minor. Ever since old man Bach transcribed this work for unaccompanied harpsichord, it has been up for grabs. "The Carnival of Venice" by Jean-Baptiste Arban (1825-89) as arranged by one G. Herbillon has an evocative opening, but then goes into off-key accompaniment, a device popular in the middle of this century. The sound is excellent and the disc recommended to those so inclined.

Nils Anderson, FANFARE [5/1994]