Archived Articles

Always at the forefront of historical trombone research on the Internet, the British Trombone Society has the latest in Avishai Kallai's findings on the earliest use of the trombone in a symphony. In Revert to Eggert, he delves into the frozen past of the trombone in Stockholm and uncovers what may now well be considered the first use of the trombone in a symphony before Beethoven.

Recently in Toronto, Canada, to give a paper at the Toronto 2000: Musical Intersections conference, Howard Weiner, freelance trombonist in Freiburg, Germany, selected the title The Soprano Trombone Swindle, in which he uncovers a decidedly fraudulent misrepresentation of the history of the soprano trombone and its music, which persists until today, and seeks to track down the instrument's real past.

On a Pedestal by Anthony Parsons. A renowned figure on the London orchestral scene, Alfred Flaszynski made a meteoric rise to fame in the most well-known of British orchestras immediately after the Second World War. Anthony Parsons, ex-Principal Trombone of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, profiles the man who was Principal Trombone in the BBC SO before Tony took over after his retirement in 1981.

A Lament for Sam Hughes by Trevor Herbert. Sam Hughes was the last ophicleide player in the United Kingdom. The ophicleide was gradually replaced in the last century by the euphonium. In this article, Dr Trevor Herbert, Staff Tutor and Senior Lecturer in Music at the Open University in Wales, looks at the life and work of this great virtuoso of a long-forgotten instrument.

Cyfarthfa Reborn by Trevor Herbert. Eleven years ago a collection of original hand-written brass band music was discovered in an attic in Merthyr Tydfil. This was the library of the virtuoso Cyfarthfa Band, founded in 1838 by iron magnate Robert Thompson Crawshay, and famous for winning the second day of the first ever Crystal Palace Championships in 1860. Dr Trevor Herbert, Staff Tutor and Senior Lecturer in Music at the Open University in Wales, delves into the history of this amazing ensemble and its music.

Gardeners' Question Time by Tom Winthorpe. Recently, in a very dusty corner of a storeroom at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, some remarkable old instruments were found. Tom Winthorpe, a trombonist in the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, takes us through their fascinating discovery and throws some light on the history of the opera in London.

Boléro Unravelled by Simon Wills. Have you ever wondered about why Maurice Ravel wrote such a high solo for the trombone in Boléro? Simon Wills investigates and finds that if things had been different, it might have been higher still!

Are we doing Dvořák wrong? by Ken Shifrin. What type of trombone did Dvořák write for? Ken Shifrin looks into performance practice in Bohemia and comes up with some interesting discoveries.

First Night Nerves by Anthony Parsons. Have you ever wondered what was going through the minds of the trombonists at the première of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony? Anthony Parsons, former editor of The Trombonist, investigates.

Das Sinfonische Werk von Franz Beck by Sarah Gordon. Franz Beck, a naturalised Frenchman, wrote a symphony including three trombones forty years before Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, which is generally acknowledged to be the first time they were used in the concert orchestra. Discover the work of this composer and take a listen to the movement which saw the trombones used for the first time in a symphony.

The article Das Sinfonische Werk von Franz Beck by Sarah Gordon inspired Avishai Kallai to do some research of his own into the symphonies of Franz Beck: The Sackbut Rebut. Could it be that the symphony which purportedly introduced the section of trombones into the concert orchestra was a hoax?

Friends and Relations: The Contrabass Trombone by Dick Tyack. The contrabass trombone, the instrument of giants and monsters, is visited in the first of our "Friends and Relations" series. Learn all about the instrument and its music from one of the people most qualified to play it - Dick Tyack, bass and contrabass trombonist with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Friends and Relations: The Bass Trumpet by Harold Nash. In the second of our "Friends and Relations" series, Harold Nash pays a visit to one of the strangest of instruments, the bass trumpet. Read all about its history and compare different manufacturers' models.

Friends and Relations: The Alto Trombone by Carsten Svanberg. An acknowledged expert in his field, Carsten Svanberg takes a close look at the alto trombone, its music and how it fits into the orchestral brass section.

Friends and Relations: The Ophicleide by Stephen J. Weston. Originally entitled "The Ophicleide - Living Voice from the Past", Stephen J. Weston's article from the Spring 1987 edition of The Trombonist has been updated and constitutes a useful, if unusual, addition to the "Friends and Relations" series.

Friends and Relations: The Sackbut by Keith McGowan. The sackbut, otherwise known as the Barockposaune, is examined by Keith McGowan in the last of the series of "Friends and Relations". A useful review of modern sackbut manufacturers and their instruments is included.

Paul Weschke: a master of the German School by Anthony Parsons. Paul Weschke was a solo trombonist with the Royal Court Theatre Orchestra in Berlin in the early 20th century. Anthony Parsons, former editor of The Trombonist investigates.

A European Tour Odyssey by Douglas Yeo, bass trombone with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. During the summer of 1998, the Boston Symphony Orchestra toured around Europe. Follow Doug Yeo on his travels around England, France, Germany, Austria and Greece in this fascinating insight into orchestral life on the go.

The London Trombone Sound by Anthony Parsons. One of the most unique records ever made, The London Trombone Sound features a recording of Meredith Willson's 76 Trombones with 76 trombones! Anthony Parsons, ex-principal trombone of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and former editor of The Trombonist takes a look behind the scenes at how the recording was produced.

For The Sake Of Authenticity by Susan Addison. Sue Addison, a specialist on the sackbut and early trombone, describes what it's like to be involved in the period instrument business.

The Trombone in Britain before 1800 by Trevor Herbert. Dr Trevor Herbert has made a thorough investigation into a period of trombone history veiled in mystery. Did the trombone really die out in Britain during the 1700s?

Mix 'N' Match by Arthur Wilson. During the immediate post-war period, new large-bore trombones were difficult to procure. Arthur Wilson relates his escapades in trying to cobble together a large-bore trombone at a time of desperate shortages.

Ray Premru: An Appreciation by Peter Bassano. Sadly, this great master of the bass trombone passed away in 1998. In this article from The Trombonist in 1988, Peter Bassano, one of Ray's close colleagues in the Philharmonia Orchestra looks back on Ray's time in the orchestra and it is a fitting tribute to past merit.

The English Rose by Godfrey Kneller. Now sadly almost completely extinct, the G bass trombone was christened "The English Rose" by Godfrey Kneller in this article from 1954, the time when the large-bore American B flat/F bass trombone began to oust it from its place in British bands and orchestras.

Timber and the Spanish Ladies by Anthony Parsons. Sir Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs has a well-known trombone quartet which is played on every Last Night of the Proms. Anthony Parsons related its history and tells of Sir Henry "Timber" Wood and the Promenade Concerts.

Mozart's Requiem: an Internet discussion by Derrick Parker. Have you ever wondered about Mozart's writing for trombone in the Requiem? This interesting exchange between two of the illuminati of the Trombone-L Mailing List throws some light on the trombone parts and the Tuba Mirum.

Creating Problems by Edward Solomon. Haydn's Creation is an extraordinary work. The first truly international hit, it took the world by storm. Edward Solomon, British Trombone Society Webmaster, delves into the history of The Creation and tells of the early demise of the bass trombone in Vienna during the 18th century.

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