Andrew Burn - Historical Bassoonist
Andrew Burn is an internationally active specialist in early music, known for his work as a historical bassoonist and for a research-driven approach to seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century repertoire. Based in Basel, Switzerland, he appears regularly with ensembles such as Capricornus Consort (CH), the Basler Madrigalisten (CH), and Il Gusto Barocco (DE), and and will appear this season with Der Musikalische Garten (CH) and the J.S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen (CH). His performances have been broadcast in more than 15 countries, and he can be heard on the ATMA, Obsidian, Pan Classics, CPO, Berlin Classics, and ACCENT labels. From 2013 to 2015 he served as solo bassoonist of the European Union Baroque Orchestra, performing across Europe under the direction of leading conductors.
A central focus of his work is the reconstruction of musical practices that are only partially preserved in written sources. His projects often address repertories in which the bassoon plays a significant but under-documented role, exploring the gap between surviving notation and the historical presence of highly skilled performers. Drawing on archival research, source studies, and stylistic analysis, he develops programmatic approaches that place instrumental and vocal works within their broader cultural and institutional contexts.
In May 2017, he was awarded first prize at the Professional Bassoon Competition of the Fagot Netwerk in Groningen, the first time the distinction was given to a performer on a historical instrument.
He is the founder and director of Primary Colours, an ensemble dedicated to the sound world of instrumental and vocal chamber music of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Founded at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in 2014, the ensemble’s work centres on historically grounded programme design, with a particular interest in cross-cultural exchange and the transmission of musical styles between Italy and the German-speaking lands. The group has appeared at major European festivals including the Utrecht Early Music Festival, MA Festival Brugge, and the Muri BAROCK Festival, and presents projects that combine well-known repertoire with lesser-known sources in carefully constructed programmatic frameworks. Recent and upcoming engagements include performances at the zamus: early music festival in Cologne and the Musica Cordis series in Egerkingen.
Alongside his performing career, Andrew Burn maintains an active practice as a reed maker, supplying players internationally through his workshop bassoons.ch, and is regularly engaged as a teacher and mentor. He has also developed a parallel career in video production within the classical music sector, working as a videographer and producer on concert documentation, promotional material, and digital formats. Since 2020, his work in this field has focused on expanding access to early music through high-quality, practice-oriented media, supporting both established ensembles and emerging musicians.
Across his work as a performer, curator, and producer, he brings together artistic practice, historical research, and practical production, with the aim of presenting early music in forms that are both historically grounded and directly communicative to contemporary audiences.