It’s going to be a blast: why 100 tubas are heading for a garden in Haddington

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 18, 2026

A group of 100 tuba players will perform Anthony Braxton’s rarely played Composition No 19 at Amisfield Walled Garden during the Lammermuir festival on September 19. This will be only the third time the piece has ever been performed and the first outside the United States, showcasing large-scale musical collaboration in a unique outdoor setting.

A large-scale contemporary music event featuring 100 tuba players is set to take place at Amisfield Walled Garden near Haddington, East Lothian, as part of this year’s Lammermuir festival. Scheduled for September 19, the performance will present Anthony Braxton’s Composition No 19 (for 100 Tubas), a rarely performed piece originally composed in 1971.

The idea to activate the garden—once the kitchen grounds for a lost stately home and enclosed by 20-foot-high castle-like walls—came from James Waters, artistic director of the Lammermuir festival. Seeking to fill the expansive outdoor space with sound, Waters invited John Harris, artistic director of the Red Note Ensemble, to develop a suitable musical concept. After considering various options, Harris proposed a brass-based performance, ultimately focusing on the tuba for its suitability as an outdoor ensemble instrument.

Harris enlisted the expertise of trumpeter Marco Blaauw, known for his work with Ensemble Musikfabrik in Germany, to assist with the project and explore the garden’s acoustics. Joining Blaauw was John Wallace, former principal trumpet of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and noted for his high-profile solo performances, including at the wedding of Charles and Diana. Wallace died earlier this year, prompting the festival to dedicate this event to his memory.

The performance will feature Braxton’s Composition No 19, which divides 100 tuba players into four groups of 25. The piece is described by the composer as “alternative parade music,” allowing for both unity and individual expression. While all performers play tuba family instruments—including orchestral tubas, sousaphones, tenor horns, euphoniums, and Wagner tubas—the composition encourages improvisation, gradually evolving from structured segments into a collective free improvisation.

Originally composed without a premiere in mind, the piece was first performed in New York in 2006 after being reconstructed by Braxton. This event will mark only its third performance and the first outside the United States. Organizers have worked extensively to coordinate the logistics of bringing together 100 tuba players from around the world, including participants from the United States, Latvia, Estonia, and across the United Kingdom.

Amisfield Walled Garden’s size and enclosed architecture create an echoing soundscape, enhancing the immersive quality of the event. The performance will wind through the garden as daylight fades, culminating in a dynamic, spontaneous group improvisation.

This ambitious project reflects Lammermuir festival’s commitment to innovative contemporary music and large-scale participatory events, blending musical experimentation with the unique natural and historical setting of Amisfield.

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