The ability to make the familiar sound fresh or the well-known revitalised has tested the abilities of many solo performers over the years. 

Needless innovation can be as troublesome as poorly executed restoration: The elegant structures of Marcello, Mouret and Telemann have no need of artificial enhancement, the familiar soundscapes of Purcell, Mendelssohn or Greig retain a timeless relevance that defies age.

Speak for itself

That is what makes this intuitively performed release by Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth such a delight.

The music is allowed to speak for itself - the soloist supported only by the equally conscious textured accompaniment of organist Kåre Nordstoga (with a notable mention to producer Vegard Landas who makes the acoustic of Oslo Cathedral sound both spacious as well as immediate).

There is a subtle appreciation of dynamic nuance and flow throughout – from the sensitive lyricism of Mendelssohn’s ‘Auf Flugeln des Gesanges’ and resonant expression of Grieg’s ‘Solveig’s Lullaby’ from ‘Peer Gynt’.

The repertoire (20 tracks in all) spans genre, time and title; from 17th baroque to 20th century contemporary, folk tunes to march steps, the celebratory to the reflective, weddings to funerals – each shaped with elegant phrasing and linear progression.      

Helseth’s ability to broaden her tonality to encompass the darker timbres of  ‘Shenandoah’, and the melancholy of the traditional  ‘Gammal fabodpaslam fran Dalarna’  is balanced by the evocative atmosphere created on  ‘Elegy for Trumpet and Organ’  by Sommerfeldt and tenderness of  ‘Varsag’  by Sommerro.

Subtle appreciation

There is a subtle appreciation of dynamic nuance and flow throughout – from the sensitive lyricism of Mendelssohn’s  ‘Auf Flugeln des Gesanges’  and resonant expression of Grieg’s  ‘Solveig’s Lullaby’  from  ‘Peer Gynt’.

Elsewhere high grade tempered musicality is displayed with the razor-edged clarity of the Mouret  ‘Rondeau’, filigree neatness of Telemann’s  ‘Heldenmusik’  and the bravura of Clarke’s  ‘Suite in D Major’.

Add in a pinch of zestful Charpentier and Purcell to top and tail things and all the magical memories of life, love and even loss are complete.

Iwan Fox

To purchase: https://lawostore.no/cd/helseth-tine-thing-trumpet-nordstoga-k%E5re-organ-magical-memories-21277

Play list:

1. Prelude from Te Deum (Marc-Antoine Charpentier)
2. Bridal March from Østerdalen (Trad. arr. Tine Thing Helseth & Kåre Nordstoga)
3. Adagio from Concerto in C Minor (Alessandro Marcello)
4. Men går jag över ängarna (Leif Strand arr. Jarle Storløkken)
5. Sofðu unga ástin mín (Trad. arr. Jarle Storløkken)
6. Ved Rondane (Edvard Grieg)

7. Heldenmusik (Georg Philipp Telemann)
i. Die Würde - La Majesté
ii. Die Anmut - La Grâce
iii. Die Tapferkeit - La Vaillance

8. Bridal March from Sørfold (Trad. arr. Tine Thing Helseth & Kåre Nordstoga)
9. Shenandoah (Trad. arr. Jarle Storløkken)
10. Rondeau from Fanfares et Simphonies (Jean-Joseph Mouret)
11. Gammal fäbodpsalm från Dalarna (Trad. / Oskar Lindberg)
12. Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (Felix Mendelssohn)
13. Elegy for Trumpet and Organ (Øistein Sommerfeldt)
14. Den första gång jag såg dig (Birger Sjöberg arr. Tine Thing Helseth & Kåre Nordstoga)
15. Våren (Edvard Grieg)

16. Suite in D Major (Jeremiah Clarke)
i. Prelude, The Duke of Gloster’s March
ii. Minuet
iii. Sybelle
iv. Rondeau, The Prince of Denmark’s March (Trumpet Voluntary)

17. Koppången (Per-Erik Moraeus arr. Jarle Storløkken)
18. Vårsøg (Henning Sommerro arr. Kåre Nordstoga)
19. Solveig’s Lullaby from Peer Gynt (Edvard Grieg)
20. Trumpet Tune in C Major (Henry Purcell)