4BR has been informed of the death of the conductor, trombonist, author and academic, Peter Bassano. Both a Fellow and Member of the Royal College of Music, he passed away on 1st February.

A descendant of Anthony Bassano the oldest brother of a family of six Venetian musicians brought to England by King Henry VIII, he enjoyed an outstanding musical career.

Fascinated

Bassano later wrote that he was inspired to take up music after seeing the Coronation of Elizabeth II and hearing Philip Green's score to the film 'John and Julie' which featured the great Eddie Calvert.

The trombone fascinated him from an early age in watching the local Salvation Army Band march past him as a child on weekends in Southend on Sea.

Professional musician

He studied voice and trombone at the Royal College of Music from 1965-68, and went on to become a member of the trombone section of the London Philharmonia Orchestra for 27 years.

As a freelance performer he enjoyed widespread acclaim. He also studied conducting with Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Elgar Howarth, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Roger Norrington, Jorma Panula and Bramwell Tovey.

He was elected for two terms to the Philharmonia's Council of Management and was a member of the Orchestra's Artistic Planning Committee alongside John Wallace.

Chronicled life

Bassano later recalled his experiences in a highly entertaining book, 'Before the Music Stopped' that chronicled his life from 1965 to 2000, including working alongside the Bees Gees, Pink Floyd and The Beatles (his voice is heard on 'Hey Jude'), as well as Klemperer, Maazel, Muti and Ashkenazy amongst others.

He was trombone professor at the Royal College of Music, and serving as Head of Brass from 1993 — 2004.

Committed to the performance of early music on period instruments Peter Bassano was a long-time member of His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts, as well as ensembles such as the English Baroque Soloists and the Gabrieli Consort.

Equale Brass and conductor

As founder and Artistic Director of Equale Brass, he enabled them to record seven albums of music for brass quintet, as well as commissioning many new works from composers such as David Bedford and John Tavener.

As a conductor he notably worked with Paul McCreesh and his Gabrieli Consort and Players and Sir John Eliot Gardiner for his Berlioz 'Romeo and Juliet' recording projects.

He shared the podium with Vladimir Ashkenazy in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's International Series and at the Royal Albert Hall in a BBC Promenade Concert and at Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

He made several Festival appearances at Aldeburgh, Chester, Greenwich, Nottingham, the Three Choirs and was the conductor of the Oxford University Sinfonietta.

Brass band links

He also championed new music from composers for the brass band movement from the likes of Tim Souster, Joseph Horovitz and Simon Dobson.

He also kept a close, if somewhat occasional connection to the brass band world through links with the City of Cambridge Band (conducting them for over a decade), Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Leyland and Brighouse & Rastrick. He was due to take Brackley & District Band to the Midlands Regional Championships this year.

Bassano later recalled his experiences in a highly entertaining book, 'Before the Music Stopped' that chronicled his life from 1965 to 20004BR

Highly respected

Over many years he became a highly respected adjudicator, judging at elite level at the European Championships, Norwegian National and Siddis Championships as well as a number of UK Regional Championships.

In later years he visited the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Northern College of Music, Guildhall and others as a highly respected External Examiner.

As an author he wrote many leading music publications and the national press, as well as presenting research on Beethoven, Byrd, Shakespeare and Veronese.

In 2014 he was involved in an extensive legal case over a building dispute.

He leaves his widow and four adult children.