In the vast repertoire of concerti for trumpet and orchestra, the Bohme concerto holds a unique place in history as being the only known trumpet concerto of the Romantic era. First published in 1899 with orchestration to follow in 1902, the concerto has lived in relative obscurity for over one hundred years.
The current edition was done in an attempt to correct discrepancies in the originally published score as well as bringing the score up to modern performance standards. The solo trumpet originally written for the awkward A trumpet has been transposed for C trumpet since this is the logical choice of instrument for the concerto considering key and instrument range. Articulations, dynamics, phrasings, solo and doubling woodwind lines have all been addressed as well as note corrections. The result is a clean, smooth orchestration which I believe the composer always intended.
There is a logical cadence point at the end of the first movement for a cadenza however, no cadenza was ever found written by the composer. I have included the cadenza I wrote for the recording of this edition yet it is not necessary to play it.
It is my sincere hope that through this new edition the Bohme Concerto will find many more performances in its next hundred years than it found in its first hundred years.
—George L. Vosburgh
Instrumentation
Solo Trumpet in C
Flute 1 & 2
Oboe 1 & 2
Clarinet in A and B-flat 1 & 2
Bassoon 1 & 2
Horn in F 1 & 2
Trumpet in A & B-flat 1 & 2
Trombone 1 & 2
Bass Trombone
Tuba (mvt. 2 only)
Timpani
Suspended Cymbal
Strings
(Timpani can double cymbal)
Duration
17 minutes
