Page 70 - Alison Balsom Quiet City FULL BOOK

first pieces that I fell in love with to a deeper level when playing the trumpet. Copland
understands the trumpet’s qualities, the melancholy aspects of the instrument and how it
could sing. It is a relatively short work, so it was interesting to think about what it should be
programmed with. I don’t think of myself as a jazz trumpeter, yet there is a really
interesting point where in America composers were writing ‘in the gap’, letting themselves
experiment. It didn’t matter that it was classical or jazz, they were taking from both realms.
I found that this made a coherent journey, and found the nuggets growing to album ideas.”

She recognises the relevance of Quiet City to the pandemic. “Copland was a visionary with
what we needed. We made this recording in November 2021, when we were just coming
out of lockdown. We all had an intense feeling of gratitude to be able to play this music live
with a feeling of stillness in the concert hall, a voice that said, “Aren’t we lucky to be here?!”
It is such a powerful vision, evoking the atmosphere from the first section, looking between
building in New York like an Edward Hopper painting. Even working with a piano reduction
I was in a melancholy mood. With this music I think of a film like Lost In Translation, and of
two people with a luxury life, going to very different places. There is an isolated melancholy
but beauty too, like a friend. As a piece, though, it is technically and physically challenging to
play.”

She elaborates further. “Sustaining the notes can be a physical struggle, but you need
command of the sound, the articulated notes – and you somehow need to make them
tentative and nervous. You want to convey someone practising in an apartment block or
something, being wonderfully balanced with the cor anglais and communicating with your
audience or listeners.”

The cor anglais part on this recording is taken by Nicholas Daniel, who Balsom professes
undying admiration for. “He is such a great musician, and has such a strong feeling about
that piece. It was inspiring working with him and getting his insight and thoughts. It was