James Munro - Historical Bass

Born and educated in Australia, James Munro studied Contrabass and graduated with a bachelor degree from the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney. He was later to continue his studies at the Royal Conservatorium in The Hague, specialising in Baroque Contrabass and Violone.

Since establishing himself in Europe in 1990, he has performed with many leading early music ensembles, either in the role of soloist or as principal Contrabass player. Particularly enduring collaborations have been with such ensembles as La Petite Bande, Anima Eterna Brugge, Le Poème Harmonique and Collegium Vocale Gent. With these and many other ensembles he has collaborated on countless CD recordings and performed on the most notable concert stages throughout the world.

As continuo player in particular – both on Violone and Contrabass - he has performed with many prominent early music pioneers including Gustav Leonhardt and Trevor Pinnock, and has collaborated on a number of French opera productions under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle.

In addition to giving regular master classes throughout Europe, he is Professor of Historical Contrabass and Violone at the Conservatoire Royal in Brussels, and is a member of the Freiburger Barockorchester.

Course description:

An informed approach to the topic of historical bass instruments is by nature a broad and varied undertaking. From the numerous possible tunings of the 8‘ Violone and 16‘ Violone/Contrabass, to the many historical bows, these are all variants of the wider historical bass instrumentarium which will provide guidance material during the course of the Summer Academy.

Each student arrives with their own history, profile and preferences and my initial aim is to accommodate the wishes of each individual. At the same time I encourage a broader experience of the „unfamiliar“ - instruments of different tunings, varying historical bows, etc. - in order to approach the historical context of bass instrument players of the Baroque era, where „adaptability“ was the order of the day.

In addition to the opportunity to participate in a class Bass Consort, an informed and practical approach to the Basso Continuo role of the Violone and Contrabass in Baroque music will of course provide an essential element to the class programme.