This recording unites familiar works with rarities recovered from their archival sleep. Thieme's Sonata is one of the first pieces ever written for solo trumpet(s): this and all the other pieces presented here display the level of virtuosity attained by the courtly trumpet repertoire of the Baroque period, at a time when it was the symbol of celestial and earthly power, nearly always splendid and joyful.

On this recording, works have been assembled to demonstrate the musical splendour of German courts. An apparent exception is the Handel suite, but the connection of the house of Hanover with the British crown and Handel’s own origins justify this work’s acceptance into the German cultural tradition.