"Bones Apart represents all that is best about British brass playing, with a beauty of sound and musicality that is simply stunning. They communicate with passion and humour and serve as wonderful ambassadors for the trombone"
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Kevin Price,
Head of Music Performance,
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Sample programmes
Bones Apart performs a wide variety of repertoire combining original works and skilful arrangements. Composers such as Beethoven, Bruckner and Stravinsky have all written for trombone ensemble. Beethoven wrote his 'Equali' for four trombones in 1812 and it was also played at his funeral. Berlioz called the trombone the “true head of the family of wind instruments” and Elgar and Holst both played the trombone. In fact Gustav Holst was a member of the Carl Rosa Opera Company.
Bones Apart has commissioned many new works for trombone quartet including pieces from composers such as Gary Carpenter, Matthew Taylor, Christian Lindberg, John Kenny, Dan Jenkins and Peter Meechan.
Here are some examples of the variety of programmes we perform. We can also tailor our programme by request to suit any event.
For sound-clips please visit our Shop page.
Wonder Women
Muses, Queens and Warriors
Wonder Women
Muses, Queens and Warriors
O quam mirabilis est - Hildegard von Bingen
Suite from Bonduca (Boudicca) - Henry Purcell
Torc - Helen Vollam (2021)
Piangerò, la sorte mia from Giulio Cesare - G.F.Handel
Suite from Sant Alessio - Camilla de Rossi
Vignettes - Selection of works by Lili and Nadia Boulanger
First Trombone Quartet - Saskia Apon (2000)
Lady Sings the Blues - Songs by Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell, Ann Ronell
Blues Melba - Melba Liston
Songs from Calamity Jane - Fain and Webster
“ Bones Apart enjoys a stellar reputation for producing chamber music of the very highest standard. A real coup, then, for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to showcase the ensemble in its prestigious Fridays at One slot."
"... the music was brought to the stage by a chamber group at the peak of its powers in a performance of elegance, subtlety and considerable variety in tonal colour."
Mark Good, Bandsman magazine
“ It was a wonderful performance. I never knew that trombones could sound like that! “
Louise, audience member
“ It was absolutely fabulous. I particularly enjoyed the premiere of the new composition, but the entire programme was very well planned with a wonderful selection of pieces. “
Vicky, audience member
“If music be the food of love…”
Music inspired by the works of William Shakespeare
“If music be the food of love…”
Music inspired by the works of William Shakespeare
Agincourt Song - Anon.
Four Shakespeare Songs - Tim Jackson (2008)
Scenes from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' - Mendelssohn
Such Sweet Thunder - Duke Ellington
Suite from 'Hamlet' - Tchaikovsky
Poem Unlimited - Jason Carr (1999)
Songs from 'Kiss me Kate' - Cole Porter
Shakespeare and all that jazz - John Dankworth
West Side Story Selection - Leonard Bernstein
" Music by Gounod, Debussy and Mendelssohn may seem unlikely material for four trombones but this highly accomplished all-female quartet demonstrated it was not in their Shakespeare-inspired concert. The tonal variety and pliancy of musical line produced by three tenor trombones and one bass trombone was quite astonishing at times. "
Bernard Lee, Sheffield Telegraph
“ A well-conceived programme blended an array of musical styles, all inspired by the works of Shakespeare, ranging from the Baroque to Bernstein. Three movements from Purcell’s The Fairie Queen opened the concert, including a light-footed arrangement of the ‘Chaconne.’ There was also some warm, lyrical playing in Mendelssohn’s incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with the melody, originally appearing on the French horn in the orchestral version, here beguilingly played by Jayne Murrill. “
Daniel Harding, Deputy Director of University Music, Kent University
Chasing Legends
Colourful tales of King Arthur, Sleeping Beauty, Robin Hood and Sweeney Todd
Chasing Legends
Colourful tales of King Arthur, Sleeping Beauty, Robin Hood and Sweeney Todd
Suite from King Arthur - Purcell
Scenes from Sherwood - Dan Jenkins (2012)
Tales from Mother Goose - Ravel / Tchaikovsky / Humperdinck / Massenet
Little Suite from Sweeney Todd - Malcolm Arnold
Overture to the Beggar’s Opera - Pepusch
A Little Threepenny Music - Kurt Weill
In the Hall of the Mountain King - Grieg
Songs from My Fair Lady - Lerner and Loewe
“ Their extraordinary technical ability and expressive harmonies, innate musicality and wonderful sounds successfully seduced a Leicester Lunchtime Concert audience.
Monteverdi, Purcell, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Massenet and Humperdinck played by trombones was like seeing composers in new clothes. Ravel’s Pavane, always moving was exquisite. Weill’s Threepenny Opera was much enhanced by a slippery, slidey Mack the Knife well-suited to the trombone’s unique glissando.
Dan Jenkins’ commission Scenes from Sherwood were literally character building from a stalwart Robin Hood to a drunken Friar Tuck. It had outlaws descending from trees and a tremendous battle with the Sherriff of Nottingham’s men.
Finally, over to Big Band mode with a tribute to the equally seductive Judy Garland in a lilting Over the Rainbow and a bouncy Get Happy. Bliss! “
Peter Baker, Leicester International Music Festival
El Nuevo Mundo
A musical voyage from the Spanish peninsula to the discovery of The Americas
El Nuevo Mundo
A musical voyage from the Spanish peninsula to the discovery of The Americas
Three Pieces from the Spanish Renaissance - Anon
Naranjitay - Anon
Vivencies - Christian Lindberg (2004)
Five Spirituals - Traditional/Purnell
Three Preludes - Gershwin
Postcards from Argentina - Piazzolla
La Cumparsita - Rodriguez
Choros and Tangos - Nazareth / Gonzaga
Tico Tico non fuba - Abreu
"In their concert they showed the RNCM brass students just how things should be done, with a flawless concert, demonstrating perfect balance, intonation, and their wonderful musical versatility. The place has buzzed with enthusiasm ever since their visit. A wonderful example to any young group who are wondering where to go in their musical life."
John Miller, Director of Brass Studies, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
Great American Songbook
The iconic sounds of America
Great American Songbook
The iconic sounds of America
Old American Songs - Traditional
Myths and Legends - Eric Ewazen (2001)
Five Spirituals - Traditional/Purnell
Variations on Annie Laurie - Arthur Pryor
Such Sweet Thunder - Duke Ellington
Jeanie with the light brown hair - Foster
The Trolley Song - Martin/Blane
‘A Portrait of Ella’ - featuring songs by Cole Porter, Ann Ronell, Rodgers & Hart and Harold Arlen
“ Each movement had such a wonderful musicality and excitement. I loved the dramatic intensity and wonderful resonance with which you played the first movement, with your kaleidoscopic colours throughout. Your gorgeous blend, and chorale-like sound in the second movement was simply gorgeous, and your singing and expressive interpretation of all the melodies made the music so powerful! In the virtuoso solo passages, your playing was dazzling!
It means SO much to a composer to have their music played and recorded with such care, such fantastic attention to detail, and such beauty!!!
All my best to you from New York City! “
Eric Ewazen, composer
La Fiesta!
…the sizzling splendour of Spain
La Fiesta!
…the sizzling splendour of Spain
Overture to 'The Barber of Seville' - Rossini
Tango from ‘España’ - Albeniz
Miller’s Dance - De Falla
Intermedio from La Boda de Luis Alonso - Gimenez
Suite from ‘Carmen’ - Bizet
El Noi de la Mare - Llobet
Señoras - Dan Jenkins (2010)
Latinolé: songs by Jobim, Velásquez and Youmans
Christmas with Bones Apart
Christmas with Bones Apart
Troika from 'Lieutenant Kijé’ - Prokofiev
Carol of the Bells - Leontovych
Shepherds' Farewell - Berlioz
Suite from 'The Nutcracker' - Tchaikovsky
Il est né, le divin Enfant - Fauré
In The Bleak Midwinter - Holst
The First Nowell - Hely-Hutchinson
Silent Night - Gruber
...and some Swinging Christmas favourites!