The trombone means “big trumpet” in Italian. Over the years the instrument has taken its rightful place in symphony and brass orchestras, later becoming an indispensable part of jazz ensembles. With its broad bass-tenor scale and a unique and beautiful timbre, it is in demand by musicians of all types.
The trombone is a close “relative” of the trumpet, but it has its own unique personality. Its distinguishing feature is a curved mobile tube or rocker arm which resembles the letter U. By changing its position musicians can vary the tone and the power of the sound.
About the origins of the trombone
The instrument was first mentioned in the 15th century. Many art historians believe that it is the result of the evolution of the so-called rocker pipes. To change the pitch of the sound, they had to be moved along a special part that served as an extension of the mouthpiece. Later the craftsmen came up with the idea of moving only the moving part of the instrument. This is how the double rocker appeared.
The forebear of the modern trombone was called the “sakbut” and it looked more compact. In the first half of the 19th century its design underwent some changes. Christian Zatler, a craftsman from Germany, succeeded in inventing an additional detail – the quartwheel. The instrument has the ability to sound a quart lower and produce new sounds that were previously inaccessible. The quartwentile is moved by pulling a chain attached to the phalanx of the thumb.
The trombone’s design has not changed since, apart from an unsuccessful attempt to add another valve, like the trumpet and French horn. The innovation improved usability, but the sound became much worse. As a result, the idea was discarded.
For the first time the instrument was used for concert orchestral music in France. For many decades, the trombone sounded with the other members of the symphony orchestra. But with time, its functions expanded – it began to perform solo parts. As examples, the beautiful trombone solo in Glinka’s Fantasia Waltz (1839) and Maurice Ravel’s famous Bolero (1928).
Over the years, the instrument’s popularity grew steadily. In part because new technology has made the trombone more advanced. At the same time, there has also been interest in the retromodels of years gone by. Those who wish to learn how to play the trombone can take advantage of numerous textbooks and collections of etudes for beginners written by famous composers.
Features of playing the trombone
In order for the instrument to sound, the performer must use the force of the breath and move the wail. When it is moved out, the sound is lowered, becoming louder. When the backstop is retracted, it rises, sounding quieter. This is due to a change in the volume of air inside the instrument.
The rocker must occupy one of 7 defined positions, the difference between them is half a tone. In the seventh position, the rocker is pushed all the way out. The sound is as low and powerful as possible and can be heard in any orchestra. The dreadful sound of the trombone, for example in Mozart’s or Verdi’s Requiem, is traditionally interpreted as a harbinger of sad events.
In the first position with the curtain retracted, the instrument sounds soft and lyrical. By playing the model with the quartwheel, the performer can extend the trombone’s sound range. The unusual effect is achieved by the glissando technique: the rocker arm slides over all positions, smoothly changing the pitch of the sound. Trombones come in different sizes and ranges. It is accepted to distinguish the following varieties of the instrument: tenor, alto, bass and double bass.
Our contemporaries mostly play the tenor trombone. It is the most sonorous and it is usually chosen for solo performance because of its noble sound and large range. It begins with a G in the third octave and ends with a D-sharp in the second octave. But there is a gap in its range: it does not begin with the B note of the check-actave and ends in E-flat in the great octave.
Nevertheless, the versatile tenor-trombone can replace the bass or the viola in an orchestra. These types of instrument are used less frequently. Modern symphony orchestras generally use two tenor trombones and one bass. The latter has a powerful sound, but because of its bulky size and heaviness it is often replaced by its tenor counterpart. The double bass trombone is increasingly being used.
The popular wind instrument has come a long way since its inception. Its design has been improved, its sound capabilities and functions in the orchestra have expanded. Its unique timbre and unique expression made it irreplaceable in opera, symphonic and jazz music.