Manny Laureano

A huge question, that.

My study of ornamentation is limited, at best. I learned by example and hands on help from people like Gerry Schwarz, as he was my quintet coach at school. I learned from Albert Fuller on the occasions I got to play with his baroque ensemble at school.

Vacchiano gave a basic idea about not over-ornamenting and not trilling too fast. He believed less was more.

So, you see, what I learned was from the oral tradition and not so much from investigating treatises. I played some jobs with Schwarz as 2nd trumpet where I did a lot of imitating after he had ornamented a phrase. He liked and encouraged that with me.

I tend to take it easy with ornamentation but, you see, how much baroque music do I get to play with the orchestra in light of the fact thatthe St. Paul Chamber Orchestra is right across the river? I've played Messiah, B minor Mass, Magnificat, Water Music, Let the Bright Seraphim... the usual sorts of things.

I think this is a topic that Ed Carroll would have some great things to say.

I'd be fine with double-posting this one ( just this once!) because his perspective would be good for you to read.

ML