Johann Sebastian Bach sadly left no trumpet concertos known to us in the twenty-first century. The trumpeter Matthias Höfs has now remedied this situation by arranging a number of Bach’s solo concertos for his instrument. His modern piccolo trumpet is able – unlike the valveless Baroque trumpet – to bring out the brilliant sound of the trumpet in the demanding melodies of the concertos.

Most instrumentalists, especially trumpeters, must come to terms with the fact that the history of their instrument is frequently one reflecting the gradual development of its musical and technical abilities. What that means is that a modern-day trumpeter can achieve far more with their modern instrument than was possible with the Baroque trumpet. While it is true that Bach composed superb solo parts for trumpet, he seems to have been deterred from writing a concerto in several movements for the trumpet, either because the trumpet of his day had a limited range or there was no suitable soloist available to play such a complex work.

Back in the Baroque era, it was perfectly commonplace for concertos and in particular solo concertos to be played ad libitum on a whole range of different instruments. Bach wrote all of the concertos that Matthias Höfs has recorded on his new album for the Clavier (clavichord or harpsichord). When arranging works for other instruments, Bach’s approach depended on which instrument he was arranging for. Together with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Matthias Höfs has produced an album that furthers a long tradition. At the same time, he ably demonstrates yet again what a seemingly familiar instrument is capable of.