One of the World's Greatest Trumpeters-­Maurice Andre--In Words and Music

Maurice Andre was born in Ales, close to the mining area of the Cevennes in 1933. At the age of fourteen he began studying the trumpet and made very rapid progress.

While still in his first year at the Conservatoire National de Musique in Paris he was awarded the Honorary First Prize for the Horn. In the following year he obtained the First Prize for the Trumpet.

Maurice Andre later received the First Prize in the Munich International Competitions, entering upon a musical career which took him to Germany where he was very warmly received. He has since travelled throughout the world.

He was appointed professor at the Conservatoire National Superieur in Paris in 1967. The long series of works that Andre has recorded for Erato are by 17th century composers through to the contemporary repertoire. Modern composers have been writing works with him in mind, having been struck by the remarkable mastery of his instrument, his impeccable style and ability.

He has received many Prix du Disque in France. In Germany, recently, the Berlin Schallplattenpreis awarded to him was a tribute to the esteem with which he is held in that country. Harry Halbreich has written: "Maurice Andre Incarnates the trumpet! There is an indissoluble link between the rugged golden red appearance of this happy, thickset southerner who sprang from within a mine to a glorious future at lightning speed. At the age of 46 he receives invitations to play from every corner of the globe. The ease with which he plays and his legendary virtuosity are perfectly matched with his wide musical knowledge. His trumpet sings as delicately as a violin note. He has acquired a repertoire which, had the great composers of the past had the honour of meeting him, would have been more extensive than it is. His ability is astonishing and he is quite capable of matching up to the acrobatic demands of the Hummel Concerto. He is just as much at ease when playing the classical repertoire as he is when confronted with a modern work."

Is he to be known as Maurice Andre or "Trumpet"? We find ourselves in the same frame of mind as people were two centuries ago when a musician was sometimes referred to as "a Bach." (Courtesy of Erato).