Markus Würsch performs Hummel Trumpet Concerto in E Major

Johann Nepomuk Hummel, who succeeded Haydn as Kapellmeister to the Esterházy family, also composed a concerto for the keyed trumpet virtuoso Anton Weidinger. This concerto was composed in December 1803 and performed on New Year’s Day 1804, to mark Hummel’s succession of Haydn into the court orchestra of Nikolaus II, Prince Esterházy. Weidinger is believed to have changed passages in all three movements, to facilitate performance on the keyed trumpet (seconda versione). It is unknown whether these changes were made with or without Hummel’s approval. The original score was written in E major, but the piece is often performed in E-flat major, which serves to simplify technically demanding fingering when performed on modern E-flat and B-flat trumpets. Hummel also wrote a Trio for trumpet, piano and violin for Weidinger; unfortunately this is now lost. Other composers known to have written for Weidinger and his keyed trumpet include: Leopold Kozeluh (1747 -1816) and Joseph Weigel (1766–1846).