Alexander Ivanovich Baryshev (b.1940) studied piano and theory at the Irkutsk Music College in Siberia. In 1966, upon graduating from the composition class of Yevgeny Golubev at the Moscow Conservatory, Baryshev joined the composition faculty of the Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod) Conservatory and taught there for nearly 50 years. He has composed symphonic works, four piano concertos, several concertos for violin, cello and flute as well as numerous chamber and vocal compositions.

The Sonatina in the Russian Style for Trumpet and Piano was written in 1970 and published in 1976. The Sonatina’s first movement, Folk- tunes (Наигрыши), is rhapsodic and declamatory. At times, both the trumpet and piano imitate Russian folk instruments. The second movement, Long Drawn Song (Протяжная), opens with a trumpet soliloquy. In the second phrase, the sustained piano takes over some of the notes of the theme, gradually adding layers and richness. The third movement, Buffoon Song (Скоморошья), starts in an improvisatory manner. Metric and rhythmic shifts in both parts create an impression of free flow and playfulness. Once again, the piano part is subtly intertwined with the trumpet melody, bringing out its lush sonorities. At the end of the movement, Baryshev brings back the opening phrase from the first movement, followed by the second movement theme, this time in a piano solo. Finally, juxtaposition of the third movement’s descending theme in trumpet and an ascending one in piano concludes the piece. This work includes wide melodic leaps of up to a major tenth for the trumpeter as well as a multitude of slurred arpeggios and octaves, together with drastic dynamic shifts.

Take a look at sample pages of the solo and score provided to the left and then click above for a complete download of the music. Included in this download is the solo part, piano score, and MP3 recordings of the entire piece as played by Russian trumpeter Iskander Akhmadullin.