Notice, also, that the instrument appears to be supported easily with one hand. Look at the length of the trombone, for example, relative to the size of the heads nearby, or relative to the hand holding it. This instrument appears to be relaitvely small and is perhaps an alto trombone. 1550-Netherlands: Artist Martin van Heemskerck includes a trombone-playing muse in his panel painting, Apollo and the Muses (see black and white detail and full image below public domain wikimedia commons) (New Orleans Museum of Art). The Duke orders, among other supplies, “4 tenor trombone mouthpieces” and “1 crook of a fourth for the quart-trombone.” Neuschel, in turn, attempts to sell Duke Albrecht numerous additional instruments and parts, including “1 silver trombone with a crook of a fourth, for use with voices and instruments” and “5 trombones, which are tuned together and from which a tenor trombone may be made into a bass or an alto” (Downey, From the Rim 8).Ĭ. Given the early date, the image may simply represent an artist’s attempt at a trombone rather than a specific depiction of an alto trombone.ġ6th century-Poland: A sixteenth-century inventory includes “one large quart sackbut” and “Three small sackbuts” (Przybyszewska-Jarminska, Baroque part I, 65).ġ6th century-Toledo, Spain: A fresco located in the courtyard called “de la Mona” at the Convent of las Comendadoras del Apóstol Santiago features numerous angel musicians, including an angel playing an instrument diminutive enough in proportion to its player to be an alto trombone or smaller (see detail and full image below public domain).ġ541-Duke Albrecht of Prussia, who evidently employs trombonists, has an interesting exchange with prominent brass instrument maker George Neuschel of Nuremberg. The sculpture is now held in Florence’s Museo Nazionale Bargello.ġ496-Venice, Italy: Gentile Bellini’s Procession in Piazza San Marco (Venice, Accademia) depicts a wind band with an instrument that appears to be an alto trombone notice, in particular, the size of the trombone relative to the player’s body (see below detail public domain). 1550, 16th century) (see 2 details and wider view below public domain) (Carl, Benedetto da Maiano 1:359). Aldegrever-1538 and Anonymous Nuremberg-c. Bellini detail-1496, below), and the banners apparently attached to the slides (cf. Noteworthy aspects of the rendering include the non-underhand left-hand grip of the 2 players, the relatively small size of the trombone (cf. Although the sculpture is badly damaged, a full trombone is visible in the hands of one of the brass players, and the embouchure and grip of another player are clearly visible. According to other scholars, it is more likely, based on performer nationalities and manufacturing locations, that the trombone originates in Germany (Herbert, Susato 117 Polk, Archival Documents).ġ400-1420-According to Polk, “The trombone, though not yet universal, an accepted fact of the musical scene in the first few decades of the fifteenth century” (Polk, German 66).ġ494-97-Italy: Benedetto da Maiano’s high relief marble sculpture, The Coronation of Alfonso II, features what are probably 3 trombone players. 1400-The earliest trombones, according to some scholars, appear in northern Italy and southern France (Eliason). In addition, the timeline utilizes numerous current secondary sources, including Early Music, Historic Brass Society Journal, Galpin Society Journal, and a number of recently-published books. If you notice a source in the timeline that you feel has been somehow discredited or improperly vetted, by all means, let me know, and I will consider correcting or deleting the related entry.Ĭ. The timeline below draws from more than 100 primary sources, which is, chances are, more primary sources than any other single document on the alto trombone (with the possible exception of bibliographies). Why? Because they bring readers closer to actual documented facts rather than individual interpretations and opinions. For sources see Alto Trombone History Bibliography.Ī note on sources: In historical research, primary sources are gold. A history of the alto trombone in timeline form.
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