| The instrument that you are hearing is the ancestor of the trombone the Sacbut History of the Trombone This is a document covering the history of the trombone from medieval to present times. For the purposes of this review, primarily the slide trombone will be considered, as its history is very rich and long. The trombone comes in many varieties, the most well known being the tenor slide trombone. The trombone is in actuality a family of instruments ranging from the contrabass all the way up to the soprano. It includes the more common slide trombones (and best, in my opinion), valve trombones, and even a hybrid version with a slide and valves known as the "Superbone". The Early Trombone The trombone is certainly the most recognizable wind instrument, being the only one with a true slide section. The trombone has been in existence for centuries under various forms and names, but has remained relatively unchanged for a majority of that time. Trombone, as it is called today in English, French, and Italian speaking countries, is simply the Italian Tromba(trumpet) with the suffix one, meaning 'big trumpet'. This simple and widely accepted name has not always been the accepted term, and has seen much evolution in various languages. One familiar name to most trombone players for the instrument is the English Sackbut. Francis W. Galpin1, who spent a great deal of time studying the etymology of the word, suggests that it is probably derived from the Spanish Sacabuche literally meaning 'draw-pipe'. Sacabuche is seen as early as the 14th century. Curt Sachs2 preferred an Old French derivation, Saqueboute, from saquier(to pull) and boter(to push). This term was also used in the 14th century for a large boat-hook used to unhorse cavalry in battle. However, by the end of the century the term Saquebute was in use as the term for the musical instrument. Other spellings found in early records are saykebud, shakebutte, and shagbolt, none of which were found in English literature, suggest that it was still an unfamiliar instrument in England. In fact, the instrument first appeared in England in the 15th century, at which time foreign players were used. In 1501, we have recorded the definite English Sackbut under King Henry VII. It is best to say that the etymology of this word is still not certain. The current German term for the instrument, Posaune, also has an interesting history. The trombone itself descended from a long straight trumpet called the Buisine, and as the instrument transformed so did the name. The Middle High German equivalent of Buisine was Buzine. Over time the word became Busune in the Middle Ages, then Buzaun, and finally Posaune after the 16th century. Leaving the history of the names for the trombone, let's consider the development of the instrument itself. Most scholars will agree today that the trombone most likely descended from a long straight trumpet. The Modern Trombone The modern trombone is not really all that different from its medieval ancestors. It still has the distinct s-shape. The proportions of the instrument are somewhat different however. The modern trombone comes in various sizes, but in general is larger in bore than its predecessors. Its characteristics are a cylindrical bore, meaning that the diameter of the tubing stays relatively the same throughout the length of the horn, a handslide, and a bell section that extends out proportionately about 1/3 of the length of the slide when assembled. The bell section is different than that of the early trombone. The flare is now more sudden and closer to the end of the bell section, rather than being funnel-like. There are several different types of trombones in use in today's ensembles. The trombone is an integral part of the modern orchestra, wind symphony, jazz ensemble, and brass band. The three types of trombones most often used are the alto trombone, tenor trombone, and bass trombone. Of these three, the most common is the tenor trombone. The tenor and bass trombones are typically in the key of Bb. The alto, more rarely used, is typically in the key of Eb, or sometimes F. The alto, by its name, is the highest pitched trombone. There is also a higher soprano trombone, which in reality is a slide trumpet. These are rarely seen and if ever used are typically played by a trumpet player due to the size of the mouthpiece. The tenor is the middle pitched trombone. Its range is often extended lower by an attachment of extra tubing which is used by activating some type of valve. These attacthments usually pitch the trombone in the key of F. They are often referred to as an F trigger attachment, ot just F-attachment. The bass trombone is the low instrument of the family. It is still in the key of Bb like the tenor, but has a much larger bore size. It also often has two trigger attachments if different keys, usually F and another key, extending its range even lower. There is also a lower contrabass trombone which is rarely used but is a very interesting trombone. |
| The name "trombone" comes from the Italian word tromba for trumpet. Change the suffix "a" to the Italian suffix "one", meaning "big", and you get trombone meaning "big trumpet". The early English word for this horn was sackbut, probably derived from French (saquebute) or Spanish (sacabuche) words meaning literally "pull-push". The trombone is related to the trumpet due to the similar cylindrical bore of its tubing. The method of sound production in all horns is the same: the player blows air through their vibrating lips into a cupped mouthpiece setting a column of air vibrating throughout the length of a tube with a flared open end. Simple trumpets made from animal horns, shells, and hollow bones date back to ancient times. Written documentation of trumpets dates back before 3000 B.C. in Mesopotamia. Trumpets were found in the Tutankamen's tomb. The Greeks and Romans also had trumpets. By the early 15th century, innovators found that they could take a straight trumpet and by cutting it in two and fashioning a telescoping horn, they could shorten or lengthen the horn and thus change its fundamental pitch. The early slide trumpet was born. This simply allowed the instrument to play a few notes lower or higher than it otherwise would and was not capable of playing scales as we know them. In essence, it produced a horn that could play in a couple of different keys. Further innovation in the mid-15th century resulted in the now-familiar curved parallel-tube slide which, because it was doubled back, was capable of filling in notes that were not playable on the straight slide trumpet. In the 15th century, we also find the first music texts with precise instrumental descriptions (other than for the organ). Among them, a brilliant and stirring 'tuba gallicalis', a fanfare on a broken chord of C Major for three sackbuts. The earliest known illustration of a trombone appears in the late 15th century painting "The Assumption of Virgin" by Filippino Lippi in the church of S. Maria sopra Minerva, Rome. A monochrome partial detail appears at left. Towards the end of the 15th century, the trombone was fully developed and by the 16th century it already consisted of an entire family made up of descant, alto, tenor and bass trombones. The descant trombones were eventually replaced by cornetts and later trumpets. In the end, it has been the tenor trombone which has become most prevalent. During the nineteenth century, brass instrument design and fabrication was of such widespread interest that the annual trade expositions in most countries featured an instrument competition. Prizes and ratings by judges were so cherished by the manufacturers that they imprinted the list of awards to a given model on the bell along with the name, address, and company hallmark |
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