2 ratings (5.00 avg)
2 reviews

Peter Bassano

Add friend

Peter’s Bookshelves

to-read‎ (0)

currently-reading‎ (1)

read‎ (1)

Stats | More…

Peter is Currently Reading

Peter Bassano rated a book it was amazing

Before the Music Stopped: The Life of a Professional Musician 1965-2000

by Peter Bassano

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Peter Bassano said: " Michael Senior writes:-

If what you are looking for is a “good-feel” read with lots of fascinating musical stories, pages of amusing anecdotes, and an insight into the working lives of famous orchestral conductors and performers, then this is the book Michael Senior writes:-

If what you are looking for is a “good-feel” read with lots of fascinating musical stories, pages of amusing anecdotes, and an insight into the working lives of famous orchestral conductors and performers, then this is the book for you. Peter Bassano’s memoir as a professional musician, covering the years 1965-2000, is a celebration of his love of music and his admiration of his fellow performers and those who taught and encouraged him.
In 1540 six brothers, all musicians, travelled from Venice to London to play at the wedding of Henry VIII to Anne of Cleves. They were described as the “New Sackbuts” – a sackbut being an early version of the trombone. Some 400 years later, Peter Bassano, a descendant of the “New Sackbuts” line, was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Influenced by the local Salvation Army Band, he was inspired to learn the cornet, and then, unsurprisingly, the trombone. It was the start of a life-long love of music which took Peter from being a student at Royal College of Music Brass to speedily becoming RCM Professor of Trombone and finally Head of the Brass Faculty. For 27 years he was a member of the Philharmonia Orchestra and also founded Equale Brass and played with other celebrated ensembles. During his career he made guest appearances with major orchestras around the world and performed with renowned conductors including Klemperer, Barbarolli, Abbado, Muti, Previn and Gardiner. He also found time to be part of the film, theatre and pop music scene of the 1960s and 70s.
This book is a distillation of Bassano’s musical experiences and the result is an entertaining autobiography that gives pleasure and information. The reader shares orchestral highlights such as the concert in Leningrad when Benjamin Britten conducted his early piano concerto played by Sviatoslav Richter, and Peter Pears performed songs from Purcell Orpheus Britannicus. We learn that Beethoven was the first composer to introduce the trombone into the symphony (the finale of his fifth symphony); that Bassano toured Germany and Austria with the pop group the Bee Gees; that his brief involvement with the Beatles hit “Hey, Jude”, has earned him more money than anything else he has done; and that a fellow performer, the trumpeter Maurice Murphy, “shot” an over-critical conductor (with a toy pistol) in a fit of frustration.
During the past twenty years, the author has developed his professional career by becoming a conductor and the book ends: “So far I have led a charmed life…if the story is to be continued, that needs to be the subject of a second volume”. We await with great interest. The present volume should not be missed and is highly recommended. ...more "

Nov 21, 2023 08:17AM · see review