Tower Music is one of the oldest traditions at the Carmel Bach Festival. It began in 1936 with the Heralding Trombones, led by two generations of the Stewart Family, Chandler and son Gordon, and the trombone quartet opened every Festival in the early days. The Stewart Family performed well into the 1960’s until the Festival Orchestra brass section was asked to carry on the tradition as it does today. They played from the balcony window of the old Sunset Auditorium which opened onto the parking lot – the window is still there, overlooking the foyer - and from the Carmel Mission bell tower, thus earning the nickname “Tower Music.”
Tower Music is a centuries-old tradition dating to the Middle Ages. Musicians utilized ancient trumpets, trombones, horns, and drums to call or signal attention to events and situations for the better (the arrival of royalty, weddings, pageants, hunts, jousts, and the hours) or for the worse (invading or marauding armies and other serious and life-threatening actions).
Our repertoire spans five centuries, from the Renaissance to present day. Tower Music is thrilling, exciting, and fun, lending a festive and joyful prelude to the Main Concert on Saturdays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Join us on the Sunset Terrace or at the Mission Courtyard (see schedule above) for a free 20-minute concert in a relaxed atmosphere. Bring the family, including the dog(s)!
— Suzanne Mudge, Trombone, Tower Music Director
