I’ve been getting ready for a recital–but in this pandemic, it will not be a live recital. Just video-recorded. Nevertheless, I have to prepare. Here is a video clip of me working on the first movement of J.S. Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 (arranged by Ralph Sauer and now conveniently in concert B-flat!). From a trumpet perspective, the suites provide a wonderful opportunity to play lots of slurs.
The Praeludium:
No tags for this post.
I’m not of the opinion that slurs, per se, were ever intended on any wind instrument prior to the introduction of valves and keys.
Henry–you may be right. Nevertheless, my example is on a valve trumpet, playing a transcription of Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 (mvt. 1). So, no rule-breaking there.
The value of using slurs in the practice room to get better in general and on specific passages of literature, even as we apply it to the baroque trumpet, is worth the effort in my opinion–even if we don’t ultimately perform music with slurs.
Of course, in the realm of trills during the late Baroque, we certainly have “slurs.” Also, Bach notated slurs in many trumpet parts (see many examples in the b-minor mass).