Per ardua ad astra

I've now graduated from the Royal College of Music. I went to the graduation ceremony, walked across the stage wearing the gown and hood, listened to some speeches, picked up my certificate, raised a glass with my course-mates and chatted to all and sundry. One of my fellow graduates asked me, "so, what will you be doing now that you've finished?" My answer to myself was simple: I haven't finished
Read more ...

Recording in Wrocław

I have spent the last few days in Wrocław in Poland. A beautiful city, with lots going on. They are currently building a new home for the Philharmonic (which I am told will be the best acoustic of any concert hall in central Europe) and the Euro 2012 football trophy has been unveiled since we have been here. There is lots happening. Also, yesterday it was 25°C, which was an added bonus. We are here
Read more ...

Presentation looming

English Slide Trumpet Presentation:The current form of the Presentation is changing. I'm getting rid of most of the text and just using the images as my impetus. I'm working on the basis that people will learn more with a clearer structure.Less is more.It's good to print it out and swap the pages around. Computers are good, but for certain things - they can sometimes be a barrier."The English Slide
Read more ...

English Slide Trumpet - Performance Presentation

I performed on an original 19th Century Slide Trumpet from the Royal College of Music Museum of Instruments as well as giving demonstrations on the Natural Trumpet (without holes) on the 30th April 2012, 12:20 - 13:00 - Durrington Room at the Royal College of Music. This twenty-five minute lecture presentation will focus on Thomas Harper Senior (1786-1853) and Thomas Harper Junior (1816-1898)
Read more ...

Uncle Jim's Trumpet - Vintage Selmer Manhattan

This vintage Selmer "Manhattan" trumpet from the early 1920s has a remarkable history. It belonged to my great-uncle, Jim Vickers. Uncle Jim played this trumpet all over the world and even in a performance for the King of Iraq - with the Royal Signals. The instrument is what we would now call a 'small bore' trumpet. I used to think that it was the early 1920s recording techniques that were responsible
Read more ...

Brandenburg Concerto No.2

Dear all, I will be performing Bach's Second Brandenburg Concerto on the Natural Trumpet on Friday 24th of June at 19:30 in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall at the Royal College of Music (RCM). Ashley Solomon and the RCM Historical Performance department will be joined by Neal Peres Da Costa and students from the Sydney Conservatorium to give a varied programme of music by Bach,
Read more ...

Interview with Paul's Thought

Russell Gilmour – Introduction: When were you born? 1988 Where do you live? London…but in the last 12 months I’ve lived in Manchester (where I did my Undergraduate Degree) and I’m originally from the Isle of Man. Russell Gilmour – The Instrument: What is your instrument? Trumpet and Natural Trumpet. What make of instrument do you use? Frank Tomes – Natural Trumpet. When did
Read more ...

Brixen, Italy

I recently enjoyed a trip to Brixen, Italy where I performed Mozart’s C Minor Mass and “Jupiter” Symphony with Musica Saeculorum - under the direction of Philipp von Steinaecker. It was a beautiful and fascinating place - which made for a wonderful tour.The music was excellent and it was brilliant to meet and hear so many fabulous musicians from all over Europe.It was also enjoyable to visit
Read more ...

Dartington 2010

Dartington International Summer School 2010 Funeral Cortege: Purcell - Funeral Music for Queen Mary II Front Row: Timpani covered in black clothSecond Row: Katie Hodges, Russell Gilmour - carrying trumpets in black cloth (symbolising that they would not be played)Third and Fourth Row: Band of DrummersRemaining Rows: Sackbutt Choir Courtyard Music L-R: Katie McClaughry, Matthew Manchester, Guy
Read more ...

Canadian Radio Interview - CKUA

Russell Gilmour on CKUA Radio, Alberta, Canada prior to the “Mission Hill Brass Band and Friends” Concert. Russell was interviewed by CKUA Radio in Edmonton. The above sound recording is the result of this recording. With gracious thanks to CKUA and Brian Dunsmore for their kind permission to use this interview on www.russellgilmour.co.uk. Special thanks to Gordon Russell for his organisational
Read more ...

Canada Debut Announcement

Next month, Russell is set to perform in the Winspear Centre in Edmonton, Canada in the “Mission Hill and Friends” Concert with the Mission Hill Brass Band. He will be performing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto in Eb on the Keyed Trumpet and Let the Bright Seraphim on the Natural Trumpet with Soprano soloist Catherine Abele. “Mission Hill Brass will be joined by the Ukrainian Male Chorus of
Read more ...

Westminster Abbey

Performing 'Let the Bright Seraphim' and Purcell 'Trumpet Voluntary' at Westminster Abbey, London I was very fortunate to be asked to play in Westminster Abbey and what a fantastic experience it was! The acoustic was phenomenal and the sound of the trumpet reverberated for around ten seconds (or so it felt). I performed with Soprano, Anna Sandstrøm, who I met at Dartington earlier this year
Read more ...

University College of London Lecture

The Natural Trumpet: Original Instruments - “Original Ears”? “Original Ears” - By Bruce Haynes - from” The End of Early Music - Oxford University Press, 2007 University College of London - North and South Cloisters Katie Hodges (Left) - with the ensemble of new Natural Trumpet players. L-R Katie Hodges (Conducting), Andrew Thompson (sitting), Maria Jose Pinilla, Brian Read, Dearbhla
Read more ...

UCL Lecture - 'The Natural Trumpet: Original Instruments - Original Ears?'

University College of London Music Society The Natural Trumpet: Original Instruments - “Original Ears”?“Original Ears” - By Bruce Haynes - from” The End of Early Music - Oxford University Press, 2007 University College of London - North and South Cloisters Katie Hodges (Left) - with the ensemble of new Natural Trumpet players. L-R Katie Hodges (Conducting), Andrew Thompson (sitting),
Read more ...

Adnams Brewery Tour

Highly Recommended: Adnams Brewery Tour:http://brewerytours.adnams.co.uk Following on from the Christmas Oratorio in Farnham, I travelled to Suffolk with David Staff, who had been playing first trumpet in the same Christmas Oratorio. We had planned to visit the Adnams brewery on a brewery tour the following day (Sunday) and set off to Southwold early that morning. We were shown around the distribution
Read more ...

Christmas Oratorio, Farnham

Bach: Christmas OratorioSt. Andrew’s ChurchFarnham: Surreywith The Brandenburg Baroque Soloists Of course the highlight I was expecting in this Christmas Oratorio was David Staff’s playing in the final Chorus: “Lxiv. Choral: Nun Seid Ihr Wohl Gerochen” which really did steal the show, however another of the highlights of this concert was hearing Pip Eastop and Tom Kane play horn in “Xlii.
Read more ...

Tomes and Tuck

I collected my Tomes Trumpet from Frank’s house in Wimbledon. It works fantastically and is truly beautiful. Frank is such a craftsman. Bill Tuck has contacted me asking me to do a concert with Katie Hodges in London also with the possibility of doing a workshop or lecture about the Natural Trumpet. I am very much looking forward to doing this. Frank Tomes in his workshop in Wimbledon - pictured
Read more ...

The Last Trumpet - Frank Tomes

“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” I currently have a natural trumpet which belongs to the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). I love the instrument (despite its characteristic scratches and dents) and will have to give it back in a year. I had been contemplating offering to buy
Read more ...

Dartington International Summer School 2009

I travelled to Dartington via the Isle of Man Steam Packet and rail from Liverpool, changing at Birmingham for the Cross Country train towards Plymouth which, helpfully, stopped at Totnes (I didn’t have to change at Exeter this year). The rail crossing after Exeter to Totnes was once again spectacular. It follows the contours of the coast and goes in tunnels and all along the edge of the estuary
Read more ...

Lituus Project, Edinburgh

The project is the result of a collaboration between the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and the University of Edinburgh. The project has involved a great deal of research into this forgotten early brass instrument. Traditional methods and the use of specialised software to model the bore profile have been used to build a pair of Lituui, which were brought to Edinburgh by Mike Diprose from the Schola in
Read more ...

Russell Gilmour
Russell Gilmour Blog
writing on music, photography, engraving, travel and life as a freelance professional musician.