Aug 17, 2026 · 1 hr 11 min · 12 segments
Formed in 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin, the Beltline Bones are “a new music ensemble disguised as a trombone quartet” with an omnivorous approach to new music, combining the traditional idiom of the…
Stephen Anthony RawsonHost
Cole BartelsGuest
Justin CoyneGuest
Adam NissenbaumGuestReading your bio, reading stuff that you've put online, a couple things that jumped out to me.
One was Beltline Bones is a new music ensemble disguised as a trombone quartet.
That really came about, I wanna say it was, like, our, our October 2024 tour, which was, like, a mega road trip.
And while Justin and I were horrendously sick in the back of a minivan [laughs]The, this, we started, like, swirling that terminology around that the group is a, is we-we're really a new music ensemble disguised as a trombone quartet.
And we started throwing that around, and it, and it really started to stick 'cause we, we realized that to me, like, trombone music has a particular, like, sound and aesthetic.
And it's either, like, kitschy, and there's some, like, common tropes in the trombone repertoire, or, like, a lot of the trombone repertoire just isn't really that amazing or, like, fun to listen to.
And then there's also, like, a whole sect of the trombone, whether it's solo or, or, or chamber repertoire that's, you know, some people are into it, but I wouldn't say is widely palatable.
It's very new and cutting edge, but pretty palatable, and I think we're creating this, like, unique concert experience that no other trombone group is doing." So that's kinda where the, like, the quote-unquote new music ensemble disguised as a trombone quartet came about.
And the other part is, like, a lot of the shows we do are hosted by university, like, trombone studios, you know, that bring us in as a guest artist.
Um, so, like, we kind of, you know, bill to the universities as, like, "Hey, we're a, we're a trombone quartet.
Bring us in, we can do a master class and a concert for your trombone students." But then they show up to the, the show, and it's not at all what they would expect to hear from a trombone quartet.
A lot of the comments we get after the show are, "Whoa, I didn't know trombone could do that," like Cole was saying.
But also, these are just things that people don't think about when they are going to a recital at a university, right? When they go to a recital at a university for trombones, they're thinking, you know, the David and the Grondahl.
They're not thinking [chuckles] a wall of sound by new composers doing new things for a, a frankly still developing instrument in this k- with this kind of literature.
I want to focus on another thing that you, that is also online that I really find, uh, when I, when I read it, I was like, I agree with this very much.
Uh, on your bio, it said, "In a field driven primarily by mixed instrument ensembles, it's refreshing and intriguing to hear the creativity that is engendered within a homogenous timbral context like the trombone quartet." Really asking that question, what can this ensemble do? Uh, and I want to just start by asking sort of what, what about this genre and what about exploring the trombone quartet has been, uh, enjoyable to you? You can really answer that however you want, but what are some things that you've sort of been drawn to looking at, uh, this formation?
It boasts a massive range, uh, with a lot of versatility and color and palette.
And so when you take that and you combine it with a lot of modern music abilities, I, I think you get a sound that's not only unique, but sort of transformative in the field, and developing something that people w-want more of, hopefully.
Reading your bio, reading stuff that you've put online, a couple things that jumped out to me.
One was Beltline Bones is a new music ensemble disguised as a trombone quartet.
That really came about, I wanna say it was, like, our, our October 2024 tour, which was, like, a mega road trip.
And while Justin and I were horrendously sick in the back of a minivan [laughs]The, this, we started, like, swirling that terminology around that the group is a, is we-we're really a new music ensemble disguised as a trombone quartet.
And we started throwing that around, and it, and it really started to stick 'cause we, we realized that to me, like, trombone music has a particular, like, sound and aesthetic.
And it's either, like, kitschy, and there's some, like, common tropes in the trombone repertoire, or, like, a lot of the trombone repertoire just isn't really that amazing or, like, fun to listen to.
And then there's also, like, a whole sect of the trombone, whether it's solo or, or, or chamber repertoire that's, you know, some people are into it, but I wouldn't say is widely palatable.
It's very new and cutting edge, but pretty palatable, and I think we're creating this, like, unique concert experience that no other trombone group is doing." So that's kinda where the, like, the quote-unquote new music ensemble disguised as a trombone quartet came about.
And the other part is, like, a lot of the shows we do are hosted by university, like, trombone studios, you know, that bring us in as a guest artist.
Um, so, like, we kind of, you know, bill to the universities as, like, "Hey, we're a, we're a trombone quartet.
Bring us in, we can do a master class and a concert for your trombone students." But then they show up to the, the show, and it's not at all what they would expect to hear from a trombone quartet.
A lot of the comments we get after the show are, "Whoa, I didn't know trombone could do that," like Cole was saying.
But also, these are just things that people don't think about when they are going to a recital at a university, right? When they go to a recital at a university for trombones, they're thinking, you know, the David and the Grondahl.
They're not thinking [chuckles] a wall of sound by new composers doing new things for a, a frankly still developing instrument in this k- with this kind of literature.
I want to focus on another thing that you, that is also online that I really find, uh, when I, when I read it, I was like, I agree with this very much.
Uh, on your bio, it said, "In a field driven primarily by mixed instrument ensembles, it's refreshing and intriguing to hear the creativity that is engendered within a homogenous timbral context like the trombone quartet." Really asking that question, what can this ensemble do? Uh, and I want to just start by asking sort of what, what about this genre and what about exploring the trombone quartet has been, uh, enjoyable to you? You can really answer that however you want, but what are some things that you've sort of been drawn to looking at, uh, this formation?
It boasts a massive range, uh, with a lot of versatility and color and palette.
And so when you take that and you combine it with a lot of modern music abilities, I, I think you get a sound that's not only unique, but sort of transformative in the field, and developing something that people w-want more of, hopefully.
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