*
banner

CD review: The Romantic Cornet — Music for Cornet and Piano

Frank Anepool
Pianist: Vaughan Schlepp
Globe Records: CD 8711525527607



Although recorded over two years ago, this recently released recital collection of works from arguably the peak years of the cornet’s romantically inspired repertoire, provides a timely and refreshing appreciation of the art of ‘heritage’ performance.

Frank Anepool has an obvious respect and informed understanding for the music and the style in which it should be interpreted - freeing it of cloying sentimentality so that melodic technicality is brought to the fore without needless facile showmanship.  

Breathy tonality

The academic understanding is also enhanced by the decision to perform on a 1970’s medium bore Sovereign 920 cornet with a deep cup 1880’s Guilbaut Couesnon mouthpiece – a combination that provides modern day intonation security yet retains a light, breathy tonality that harks authentically back to the era.

Anepool’s impressive CV backs his performance credentials. He is a soloist of the highest grade; able to display both a tallow translucence as well as bel canto meatiness to his sound.

The limited edition release is also aided by the accomplished piano playing of Vaughan Schlepp on an 1846 Sebastien Erad instrument, although it is frustrating that the accompanying booklet has very little context information about the works themselves (the white print text on the cover is almost unreadable).    

Anepool’s impressive CV backs his performance credentials. He is a soloist of the highest grade; able to display both a tallow translucence as well as bel canto meatiness to his sound.

Musical intelligence

The musical intelligence seeps through each track – from the exhibitionism of Bellstadt’s ‘Napoli’  and ‘Carmen Fantasie’  (written in the same year as the opera was premiered in 1872), to the neat contrasts of the academic explorations of Brandt’s brace of 'Konzertstuck'  works. 

His take on Damare’s ‘Pandora’  opens a box revealing subtly tempered flute inspired hopefulness – full of controlled rubato considerations.  

His take on Damare’s ‘Pandora’ opens a box revealing subtly tempered flute inspired hopefulness – full of controlled rubato considerations.  

Elsewhere, Oskar Bohme’s impassioned ‘Liebeslied’  and joyful ‘Russischer Tanz’  (a real musical curiosity given the composer’s tragic demise in 1938 following his exile to the Ural city of Orenburg by Stalinist authorities) is balanced by the delightful ‘A Chloris’.  

Rightly considered to be the very apex of Reynaldo Hahn’s art as a vocal pasticheur with its elegant ‘Bach’ momentum provided by both the piano accompaniment and the graceful solo line, it is quite beautifully played - as is each work on a highly recommended release.

Iwan Fox


To purchase: https://frankanepool.nl/?page_id=6

Play list:

1. Zweites Konzertstuck (Opus 12) (Willy Brand)
2. Liebeslied (Opus 22) (Oskar Bohme)
3. Erstes Konzertstuck (Opus 11) (Willy Brandt)
4. Carmen Fantasie (Bizet arr. Herman Bellstedt)
5. A Chloris (Reynaldo Hahn)
6. Russischer Tanz (Opus 32) (Oskar Bohme)
7. Pandora (Eugene Damare)
8. Napoli (Trad arr. Herman Bellstedt)

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



Brass Bands England - Brass Band Week

Saturday 5 July • Nation wide


Besses Boys' Band - Besses Boys' Band Summer Concert

Saturday 5 July • The Derby High School, Radcliffe Rd, Bury BL9 9NH


Putney and Wimbledon Brass Band - Summer Concert

Sunday 6 July • Community Church Putney, Werter Road. SW15 2LL


Longridge Band - Anniversary Concert

Saturday 12 July • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HT


Haverhill Silver Band - Proms Concert - St Ives

Saturday 12 July • Hill Rise Park, St Ives PE27 6SP


Haverhill Silver Band

July 3 • Haverhill Silver Band (championship section) seeks a PRINCIPAL CORNET. This is a superb opportunity to lead East Anglia's premier brass band on the concert and contest stage (including the Senior Cup and Whit Friday).


Chinnor Silver

July 3 • Our COMMUNITY BAND meet fortnightly on a Monday morning (next rehearsal 7th) and we welcome any players who want an extra blow.. We require no allegiance just come and enjoy the friendly blow with coffee and cake thrown in.(Its all free)


Hathersage Band

July 2 • FRONT ROW CORNET (position negotiable). Hathersage Brass Band is a thriving, non-contesting community band. We enjoy our music making and have a good gig schedule. Are you the right person to join our happy band?


Phillip Lawrence

ARCM PGRNCM MFTCL ARCM B.Mus
Composer, conductor, teacher


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd