Eight Solo Sonatas: Trumpet & Keyboard Book

Meredith's realization of the continuo transforms these sonatas into genuinely compelling keyboard partnerships rather than perfunctory accompaniments. The suggested ornaments and detailed historical notes embedded in the score provide performers with a scholarly foundation without requiring supplementary research, making this edition both musically rich and pedagogically practical.

These sonatas carry the dignity and formal elegance of 17th-century Italian music, with passages that shift between ornate brilliance and intimate harmonic conversation. The trumpet part sits comfortably in a register where technical demands and musical expression balance perfectly, rewarding careful listeners with moments of genuine eloquence.

Intermediate to advanced Bb trumpet players and cornet players who are ready to engage with Baroque solo literature and want to develop period-appropriate interpretation skills. This edition also serves trumpeters preparing for auditions, recitals, or ensemble performances that require solid grounding in foundational Classical and Baroque repertoire.

• Approach the suggested ornaments as interpretive options rather than fixed instructions. Experiment with placement and timing, especially in cadential passages, to develop your personal ornamental vocabulary within the authentic Baroque style.
• Work closely with your keyboardist on the realized continuo part. Understanding how Meredith has voiced the accompaniment will clarify the harmonic framework and help you shape your solo lines with greater architectural awareness.
• Pay particular attention to the high register passages common in Fantini's writing. Build this range gradually across your practice sessions using the sonatas themselves as your training tool; the music rewards precision and control far more than raw power.
• Study the manuscript context provided in the historical notes. Knowing whether a sonata was written for church use, court performance, or virtuosic display will inform your choices about tempo, articulation, and overall character.

Program individual sonatas in a recital featuring Baroque brass literature, or pair them with keyboard works by Italian masters to create a mini concert within your larger concert frame. These sonatas also work beautifully as an intermission piece or as part of a mixed chamber concert showcasing the depth of historical trumpet repertoire.

• Baroque articulation and phrasing conventions
• Natural trumpet idiomatic writing adapted for modern Bb trumpet
• High register control and intonation above the staff
• Ornamental placement and style-appropriate embellishment
• Harmonic awareness and listening to realized continuo bass lines
• Collaborative listening with keyboard partners