Alison Balsom is a phenomenal and creative trumpet soloist. She has recorded numerous albums that span a wide array of classical music genres—from works by Bach and Vivaldi to Satie and Ravel.

Balsom demonstrates artistic versatility and creativity at the highest level. We at Trumpet Warmup want to encourage you to dive into her discography! You won’t be disappointed.

**She recently announced some new projects! We recommend following her on Instagram to stay up to date**

In this post, we will introduce some of her projects. Balsom’s recordings demonstrate musicality across several different styles and instruments, including the piccolo trumpet, C trumpet, and baroque trumpet.

The baroque trumpet is very unique—we introduce it later in the article! Check it out!

Background and Career

Alison Balsom was born in Royston, Hertfordshire—which is roughly 43 miles north of central London, UK. She began her journey with the trumpet at the early age of 7, later going on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Balsom later went on to study at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, followed by the Conservatoire de Paris. She also studied with the famous trumpet virtuoso Håkan Hardenberger.

A prominent soloist since 2001, Balsom is a former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist and has performed many of the trumpet’s concerti with the BBC orchestras. Her debut album, Music for Trumpet and Organ, was released in 2002. Balsom has gone on to release 15 albums as of 2020 (and a new album in 2022!).

Sound the Trumpet: The Royal Music of Purcell and Handel

One of the most inspiring projects Alison Balsom has released is her album of the music of Purcell and Handel. This video from 2012 captures much of the magic in the album.

One thing you likely noticed from the video is Balsom’s use of the baroque trumpet. (see below)

This trumpet is a modern instrument that is a recreation of the trumpets of the 17th and 18th centuries. In other words, the instrument seen above copies earlier versions of the trumpet—and they are still being made today. It does not have valves and can only produce notes that occur in the overtone series. You can also see vent holes that can be covered by the right hand. Although a modern addition, they assist with intonation.

A diagram of the notes a baroque trumpet can play appears below.

Alison Balsom performed all the music on Sound the Trumpet: Royal Music of Purcell & Handel with an instrument like this. The sound of the baroque trumpet is very different from our modern piston trumpets and is closer to what people would have listened to during the baroque era.

Additionally, the playing of The English Concert and Trevor Pinnock is outstanding on the album.

The album is a perfect introduction to baroque era trumpet playing, and we highly recommend checking it out!

Alison Balsom—Italian Concertos

Another spectacular album released by Balsom is titled Italian Concertos. It features works written for the violin and oboe—transcribed for piccolo trumpet! It is truly some of the most fantastic piccolo trumpet playing out there. Check it out!

Because the works were originally written for instruments like the violin and the oboe, a lot of the music is extremely virtuosic when played on the piccolo trumpet. Within the album, Balsom demonstrates amazing technical facility, as well as effortless music making.

Paris—Gymnopédie No.3 by Erik Satie

Another example of Balsom’s creativity is seen on her album Paris. She covers many different styles—again transcribing and arranging pieces written for different instruments for the trumpet. One stunning example appears below.

In addition to the virtuosic technicality of Italian Concertos and Sound the Trumpet, she brings forth impeccable phrasing and sound in this recording. In this, she used a piston trumpet in C. Whether it’s Satie, Piazzolla, or Ravel—the album has a lot to offer and expands upon what the trumpet can do.

New Album: Quiet City

Be sure to check out Alison Balsom’s 2022 album titled Quiet City. It features the music of Copland, Gershwin, Bernstein, and many others. It is available on Spotify and other streaming platforms.

Final Thoughts

The playing and creativity of Alison Balsom pushes the capabilities of the trumpet in many different ways. She expands upon the repertoire, offering creative arrangements and the blending of styles. Additionally, she offers a remarkable balance between technique and musicality—offering both at a very high level.

In searching for excellent models of trumpet sound and musical creativity, check out everything Alison Balsom has to offer!

We hope these recordings brought you inspiration—happy practicing!

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