36 - Interview with Andrew Kershaw: Ophicleides & Queen Victoria's Consort

The Early American Brass Band Podcast

Episode 36 is our enthusiastic conversation with Andrew Kershaw, founder of Queen Victoria’s Consort, and former principal tuba of Opera House in Santiago, Chile. We talk about ophicleides, tubas, and Queen Victoria’s Consort - a Victorian era brass ensemble performing period music on instruments from the Victorian era and in traditional Victorian dress while making the music and instruments exciting and engaging to the general public.

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Music in this episode comes from Our Musical Past from the Library of Congress, and Queen Victoria’s Consort.

Episode Structure:

• 3:23 - Andrew's musical background

• 6:21 - How Andrew got interested and first involved with playing and studying historical instruments

• 10:11 - Period instrument sound vs. modern instrument sound

• 11:57 - Queen Victoria's Consort, formation, goals, performances

• 16:00 - Repertoire and instrument evolution and selection

• 24:58 - Queen Victoria's Consort instrumentation and instruments used

• 28:43 - Thoughts on authenticity, appearance of the group

• 33:50 - Highlighted instruments from Andrew's collection

• 39:00 - How Andrew acquires instruments for his collection

• 43:56 - Brief history of ophicleides, instrument development

• 59:48 - Historic performers and their influence on instrument development

• 1:21:26 - Where you can find more about Queen Victoria's Consort and their upcoming virtual concert