4 Miniatures

Instrumentation: trumpets in C

In these 4 Miniatures for four trumpets and piano, Anthony Plog explores the chamber music possibilities of this unusual and vibrant instrumental combination. With great finesse, he distributes melodic and harmonic lines across the ensemble, often blurring the roles between instruments — at times, the trumpets emulate the piano, while the piano echoes the style of the trumpets.

Throughout the piece, the trumpet quartet almost becomes a single voice, engaging in a lively and colorful dialogue with the piano. Each miniature reveals a different facet of this interplay, with the third movement offering a playful change of pace — a witty homage to a well-known trumpet exercise.

A fresh and energetic work that demands tight rhythmic cohesion and a strong sense of ensemble.