Glencairn Museum presents 'Posaune Decuple' in concert

Renowned trombonists from far and wide are gathering at Glencairn Museum on Sunday, April 29, at 3pm to perform an exclusive concert—Posaune Decuple’s (“Ten Trombones”) fourth Glencairn appearance since forming in 2006.

Tickets: $20 general admission, $15 students & Basic Members, Free for Gold & Patron Members. Advance tickets available through April 26; after that, sold at the door, as available, starting at 2:30.

The concert is being organized under the leadership of Darrin C. Milling, one of the original members of Posaune and bass trombone principal with São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra in Brazil. This year’s group is actually 13 trombonists, however, who will perform works by Bach, Handel, Verhelst and others.

The original ensemble was brought together to fulfill a long-held wish of its founder, trombone legend Glenn Dodson (1931-2007), to fill Glencairn’s Great Hall with the glorious sounds of this unique group.

“The goal and hope of Posaune Decuple is, as Glenn envisioned, to bring the trombone from the back row of the orchestra to the front line in the chamber forum,” Milling has said.

To show the versatility of the instrument, Posaune’s 2006 program featured a progression, starting with a solo performer and advancing to a duo, then trio and continuing, to include all 10 players.

Dodson said at the time, “The ‘Seventy-six Trombones’ image is exactly what I am trying to overcome. It was absolutely great in the setting of The Music Man musical. But I have always wished to raise the trombone to the level of chamber music instead of the bombastic image of which it often is thought.”

Dodson, who performed as principal trombonist of The Philadelphia Orchestra for 27 years, assembled trombone players from the alumni and teaching ranks of The Curtis Institute of Music and other colleagues. They returned to Glencairn in 2008 to present a memorial concert for their founder, this time directed by Joseph Alessi, trombone principal of the New York Philharmonic. In 2011, Posaune Decuple’s Glencairn concert program was organized by Carl Lenthe, former trombone principal of the Bavarian Radio Orchestra and professor of Indiana University.

The ensemble performs exclusively at Glencairn, initially through its affiliation with Lachlan Pitcairn (1922-2013), the seventh of nine children of Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn whose former family home now houses the Museum. Pitcairn, a musician himself and prominent supporter of classical music in the region, was a long-time friend of Dodson.

For more information, visit www.glencairnmuseum.org or call 267.502.2990.

Glencairn Museum: 1001 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, PA 19009.