ISTEN IN
The listening lounge In this edition of The Listening Lounge BTS Award winners Kris Garfitt, Christian Jones and Angus Butt, and BTS Northern Ireland Representative Nathan Moore nominate pieces encompassing two centuries of musical history.These, and previous selections, can be found in The Listening Lounge playlist on the BTS YouTube channel Nominations of tracks or albums to include in The Listening Lounge can be made by emailing editor@britishtrombonesociety.org. BY AL ASTAIR WARREN
BENJAMIN BRITTEN – PIANO CONCERTO
In 2001 I was fortunate enough to join the BBCNOW while still a student and in-between house hunting and commuting to the Academy, I spent most of my time more than a little concerned about ‘letting the side down’ as I was by far the youngest member of the orchestra. BBC ensembles rely on ‘selling’ their concerts to Radio 3, which encourages programming of lesser-known repertoire. Having been introduced to the Classical Music Exchange in Notting Hill by Welsh tuba player Jonathan Rees, over the course of a year I spent around £1000 of my student loan building a CD library of standard repertoire and works such as the Britten’s Piano Concerto. Although it was intended as little more than a study aid, I was blown
away by the brilliance of both the composition and performance: I would love to know the personnel as the brass sound superb. While the intervening 20 years have featured many career highlights, Britten’s sparklingly original op. 13 remains one of my very favourite pieces in the repertoire – and sadly I have performed it just twice. Fast forward to 1 December 2021 and I worked with Joanna MacGregor for the first time (on Gershwin’s Concerto in F – another first for me), plucking up the courage during an orchestral break to thank her for this amazing disc – apparently her first ever concerto recording – and nab an autograph! Christian Jones – BTS Teacher of the Year 2021
EMPEROR JOSEPH I – ALME INGRATE
A beautiful album of Viennese late baroque music by the Capricornus Ensemble Stuttgart, featuring the sackbut as soloist. Directed by Henning Wiegräbe, professor of trombone at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart. Some of the most elegant and stylish trombone (sackbut) playing you could ever hope to hear, performed alongside the beautiful voice of the German soprano, Lydia Teuscher. Highly recommended! Kriss Garfitt – BTS Player of the Year 2021
URBIE GREEN – I GOT LOVE
I Got Love is the opening track to Urbie Green's 1972 album Bein' Green and what an opener it is! I vividly remember my brother Matt sharing this record with me when I was young, and it has been a huge influence on me and my playing throughout the years. Urbie can do it all; wild virtuosity all the way up to the stratosphere like in this track, experimental multi-tracking in Quadrobones, to pure lyrical magic in Gounod's Ave Maria. If you thought 21 Trombones was special, check out Bein' Green. Nathan Moore – BTS Northern Ireland Representative
GUSTAV MAHLER – SYMPHONY NO. 7
This recording by Michael Tilson Thomas and the London Symphony Orchestra has inspired me so much as the brass playing is absolutely exhilarating. I specifically love the trombone sounds that always make want to just pick up the trombone and play. The sound and blend of the section is just amazing and inspired me to play in that style. Angus Butt – BTS Student of the Year 2021
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