Bass trombone and beyond: a conversation with James Buckle

I began learning trombone aged 8 after I saw Mark Nightingale perform in Swanage Jazz Festival. A few years later I joined Wells Cathedral School and realised nobody played bass trombone. Being an overexcitable attention seeker, this was the perfect opportunity for me to stand out! A few years later still, I joined NYO which was the catalyst for me to pursue a career.

Fantastic – and tricky – question! I think I’d like it to be in three parts, with Bach, Schutz, and Monteverdi in the first third – Beethoven Missa Solemnis and Berlioz Symphonie fantastique in the middle – and finish with Bruckner and Mahler 9. Obviously the list is endless, but from a sentimental point of view, these pieces mean a lot to me and I have had some of my most formative moments playing them.

The heart-on-the-sleeve commitment that the orchestra plays with, and the most incredible collection of colleagues that I could ask for.

This is also a hard one to choose. My very first day on tour with Philharmonia was in Madrid, playing The Rite of Spring with Salonen, and we had no prior rehearsal. I remember we didn’t even cover the whole piece in the general rehearsal! It’s fair to say the nerves were pounding, but, I actually remember very little about it, it is all a bit of a blur! I think I most enjoy touring Japan and America, but this season’s Firebird in the Concertgebouw was a very special way to mark the beginning of our 80th anniversary season.

A lot more than a nutshell! I wear two hats – one as representative of the Orchestra, where I lead the Orchestra Committee as President, and the other as a trustee on the Board of Directors, where I work alongside the Chairperson. It’s a privilege to hold this position, and I am very proud of the work we are doing together.

I am particularly looking forward to Bruckner 8 with Donald Runnicles. I have never played Bruckner 8, but it was a requirement of my Philharmonia audition, almost 15 years ago when I was 18 years old, and I’ve been looking forward to playing it ever since. In addition, replicating Strauss’s last concert with us, as our season finale with Santtu conducting, will be a special occasion. Strauss’s relationship with the Philharmonia is significant in its history, and some of his greatest hits will be featured. It will be a wonderful way to bring our 80th anniversary season to a close.