Copyright © John Smith, All Rights Reserved.
About
We take our name from a prominent trombone quartet founded in London in 1892. By recreating this ensemble, we can trace the evolution of this long-standing idiom throughout four centuries by playing on original instruments from the time of Schütz, Beethoven, Bruckner & Bozza. Their compositions for trombone quartet - with or without vocal accompaniment - demonstrate the trombone’s versatility.
Our aim is to recreate the sounds and colours, with which these composers would have been familiar at the time of their compositions and to explore the historical approach and context of these works with the benefit of 21st Century knowledge of historically informed performance.
The Concert Trombone Quartette members are:
Susan Addison – alto & tenor trombone
Miguel Tantos – alto & tenor trombone
Emily White – alto & tenor trombone
Adrian France – bass trombone & director
Biography
The Concert Trombone Quartette is the UK’s first period instrument trombone quartet specializing in historically informed performance practice. Our remit is to perform music originally written for the trombone with repertoire spanning over 400 years from the Baroque, Classical & Romantic periods; through to the early 20th century on instruments from the time of the compositions.
CTQ takes its name from a prominent trombone quartet in London (1892 – 1896), all members being leading professional players of their time including being members of the Queen’s Hall Orchestra; playing in the first ever Proms Concerts Series (1895) directed by maestro, Henry Wood - who even accompanied the quartet at the same venue. In recreating this quartet - we trace the evolution of this long-standing idiom performing music by Schütz, Beethoven, Bruckner & Bozza including alongside works for voices and trombones in sacred motets and secular instrumental works demonstrating the trombone’s versatility.
In recreating the sounds and colours with which these composers would have been familiar with - we explore the historical approach and context of these works with the benefit of 21st c. knowledge in historically informed performance.
CTQ was formed in 2018 and is currently working on multiple large-scale projects both instrumentally and collaboratively with choirs with a view to expanding the awareness of the contextual and musical history of the trombone.
It’s debut performance (2018); a collaboration with The Newcastle Bach Choir, offered a programme of music by Anton Bruckner and his contemporaries - focusing on the origins and history of the use of the trombone in the Romantic period; receiving a glowing review to a sell out crowd.
Aug ’21 saw their debut instrumental recital for the Purbeck Arts Week Festival (PAW) in a unique programme - The Evolution of the Trombone Quartet. CTQ and Studio 5 trombone quartet shared this recital encompassing rare historical works from four centuries including collaborative octets - preceded by a morning workshop for local trombonists.
In October 2021 - CTQ collaborated with the World Renowned Choir, Ex Cathedra under the direction of Jeffrey Skidmore in a unique performance and reconstruction of the music from Beethoven’s own funeral of 1827 – researched by Adrian France.
Copyright © John Smith, All Rights Reserved.