Trombone

When a particularly bright trumpeter devised a slide for his trumpet, some time during the 14th century, and then went on to enlarge the instrument, he invented a new one: the trombone (meaning 'large trumpet'). Meanwhile, the French invented a word for it to describe the fascinating sliding action: 'saqueboute' (pull-push), and, anglicized, this became the trombone's old name, 'sackbut'. Made in many sizes, some almost as small as trumpets, trombones were used first in church, where their resonant tones added to the gravity of solemn occassions and their tonal freedom meant that they could accompany the key of any anthem sung by the choir.

From church they moved, during the 17th century, to the Italian opera orchestra, providing a strong bassline, and in Bologna, they served the same function in the stirring sonatas, symphonies and concertos for trumpets and orchestra in the last decade of that century. Although it was not the first concert symphony to use trombones, their most memorable and early appearance is in the finale of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, where, together with piccolo and contrabassoon, they add enormouslt to the range, weight and depth of the sound.

Its first concerto was composed in about 1760 by Wangenseil. Nielsen's Flute Concerto has a prominent trombone solo part, and his Sixth Symphony exploits the trombones glissando in a series od comical yawns. Made today in 3 sizes (alto, tenor and bass), the tromones have a forceful yet rich and sometimes romantic tone when playing in a group.

Midi: Beethoven's Eguale for 4 trombones No.1

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