 The name trombone is made up from several Italian words, including "trumpet" ( trombe ), and the suffix for "big" (one).in the 15th century, it was known in England as a sackbut, a name likely derived from Spanish word sacabuche , or "draw-pipe". In German, it is called a posaune . This very popular brass instrument has a wider and much lower range than that of the horn or trumpet, and a characteristic slide mechanism which allows you to play both distinct pitches and glissandi (sliding tones) with ease. With the exception of such variations as double slides and valves, the contemporary trombone greatly resembles its ancestors from the14th and 15th centuries. By the late 16th century, there were three sizes of trombones: alto, tenor and bass. Contemporary brass trombones, very prominent in western military bands, jazz groups and orchestras, are generally tenor trombones.
Because they could play a complete chromatic scale, unlike other early brass instruments, trombones were used more extensively |
by Renaissance-era and early Baroque composers. Since the 17th century, trombones have been featured in operatic scores, but apparently were not used frequently in the full "classical" orchestra until Beethoven's 5th symphony. In the United States, during the early 20th century, touring concert bands and military bands and paved the way for vituosi soloists. The techniques needed to perform these specialty pieces and novelty numbers increased the standards of musicianship and challenges offered by composers.
What happens when you pull out the slide on a trombone - do you think the notes you play would be higher or lower in pitch? Why does the sound change?
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