Repertoire: Some Suggested Easy Pieces

There are thousands–tens of thousands–of trumpet pieces available today. It would be very difficult to have a comprehensive knowledge of all of them. Nevertheless, I thought I would list a few of my favorite “easy” pieces. These pieces will challenge young trumpeters who have studied consistently for 3 to 5 years. Many of these pieces can ease the difficulty of a more difficult recital program. I think all of them have some artistic merit. I have tried to find videos for each piece that I have included. Some of the videos have young trumpeters playing, but others feature great artists who enjoy playing a tuneful piece.

Baroque

Telemann, Air de Trompette

Here is a wonderful video of Rick Murrell playing this piece on natural (coiled) trumpet, but it is playable on regular B-flat trumpet:

Short pieces:

Anderson, A Trumpeter’s Lullaby

Balay, Piece de concours

Barat, Fantaisie en Mi-flat

Bozza, Lied

Broughton, Oliver’s Birthday and Folksong

Bernstein, Rondo for Lifey

Ewazen, Ballade for a Ceremony

Goeyens, All ‘Antica (in a baroque style)

Hovhanness, Prayer of St. Gregory

Ravel, Piece en forme de Habanera

Reed, A., Ode for Trumpet

Ropartz, Andante et Allegro

Starer, Invocation

Thompson, Virgil, At the Beach

[audio:https://www.trumpetjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/03-At-the-Beach.mp3|titles=Virgil Thompson “At the Beach” performed by Hakan Hardenberger]

Kennan, Sonata (this piece perhaps is not an “easy” piece, but it is not impossible for a young trumpeter)