WE ARE CROSSBONES AND THIS IS OUR INTRODUCTION.
Crossbones is a professional trombone collective with a great view of classical music and crossover music. Founded in Ghent, part of the Unesco’s creative cities of music network, Crossbones likes to bring music to a big and different audience and promote their city as creative city of music.
With this ensemble, we are proving that the trombone is a multi-functional instrument with a diverse repertoire.
Within the base of our instruments, we dare to walk outside the pattern.
1. BRASS & ACCORDION
The Accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone type, colloquially referred to as a squeezebox.
The instrument is played by compressing or expanding the bellows while pressing buttons or keys, causing pallets to open, which allow air to flow across strips of brass or steel, called reeds. These vibrate to produce sound inside the body. Valves on opposing reeds of each note are used to make the instrument’s reeds sound louder without air leaking from each reed block. The performer normally plays the melody on buttons or keys on the right-hand manual, and the accompaniment, consisting of bass and pre-set chord buttons, on the left-hand manual.
The accordion is widely spread across the world. In some countries (for example Brazil, Colombia and Mexico) it is used in popular music. In other regions (such as Europe, North America and other countries in South America) it tends to be more used for dance-pop and folk music.
Program 60’
2. BRASS & ORGAN
The pipe organ is the grandest musical instrument in size and scope. It has existed in its current form since the 14th century.
Along with the clock, it was considered one of the most complex human-made mechanical creations before the Industrial Revolution. Pipe organs range in size from a single short keyboard to huge instruments with over 10,000 pipes. A large modern organ typically has three or four keyboards (manuals) with five octaves (61 notes) each, and a two-and-a-half octave (32-note) pedal board.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart called the organ the “King of instruments”. Some of the biggest instruments have 64-foot pipes and it sounds to an 8 Hz frequency fundamental tone. Perhaps the most distinctive feature is the ability to range from the slightest sound to the most powerful, plein-jeu impressive sonic discharge, which can be sustained in time indefinitely by the organist.
Another interesting feature lies in its intrinsic “polyphony” approach: each set of pipes can be played simultaneously with others, and the sounds mixed and interspersed in the environment, not in the instrument itself.
Therefore, the organ is one of the instruments that can sound his greatness with brass music.
Crossbones made a new program for Organ and Trombone Quartet, where arrangements of well-known music are are mixed with brand new or original compositions. In this program we give the chance to hear the organ as solo-instrument, as accompaniment or as part of the music group.
Program 60’
3. BRASS & ROCK / POP BAND / LIVE DJ
We all love pop and rock music! There is nothing better than a piano, a drummer, guitar and bass playing together. Together with a singer they bring their music in different ways and on different stages.
But sometimes, there are some brass players involved. They bring peace and coolness to the electronica and most of the time the winds are very valuable for the musicians.
The sound of brass in a rock band is warm and has many layers, they can be accompanying in heavy chords but also be part of the solo line. They can be an added 2nd voice in the melody or the bringer of peace and rest after a chorus.
Crossbones can make it possible. Together with the best arranger, we take care about the music and tries to have a very satisfied result.
(Program on demand)
4. BRASS & PIANO
The piano is one of the most popular instruments in classical music and often used in chamber music.
For this program, crossbones has found a combination of original music for 4 trombones and piano, created some new music for this occupation and arranged also some famous music.
During this program they will play different kinds and style of music where trombones and piano get in touch with each other.
We take you with us for a concert which consists different occupations: from piano or trombone solo, over duo, trio or quartet music to become a group of 5 playing together.
Program 60-90’
5. Cross-over Classical / Jazz Brass
There is a big difference between classical brass musicians and Jazz musicians. The classical ones are playing in symphonic orchestra’s, chamber music groups and try to bring the most famous repertoire to the people.
Jazz musicians are playing in clubs, big stages and with different bands. They create their own music by improvisation.
Bringing both styles together is one of the most important things in the vision of Crossbones Trombone Collective.
Together with the best jazz musicians, they will form a brass quintet and play music based on classical theme’s and improvisation.
So we still have the power of the classical trombone quartet that is improved by lyrical and soloist playing by our jazz musician.
Program 60’
Direct contact:
Bram Meese
mail: info@crossbones.be
phone: +32 472 91 55 32