On Jun 21, 2006, at 5:45 PM, Robert Patterson wrote:
Andrew Stiller wrote:
And of course, in the 20th-21st centuries, "tenor trombone" really
means tenor-bass trombone, w. a trigger. I know a lot of
first-trombonists prefer the old simplex tenor, because it is lighter
in weight and 1st trb. parts almost never need the trigger, but it
seems to me that most composers these days assume that even the first
trombone can and will play down to low C, not to mention the pedals.
This is source of frustration for our first trombonist, who (with
justification) believes that contemporary tenor trombone parts
routinely are too low. Perhaps this is because we tend to learn it as
a bass clef instrument now, even though traditionally it most
certainly is not.
I think most instruments traditionally sit well written in the staff,
and composers assume trombones are the same. For the same reason, I see
lots of flute parts that are too low to project well.
The tenor trombone sits very well in the staff - if it is reading tenor
clef or Bb treble British Band parts. Likewise, alto trombone sits very
well in the alto staff.
In my personal case, my bass trombone part calls for sustained,
exposed pedal F's at ppp dynamic. While this note is technically
equally possible on the tenor/bass instrument the 2nd player is
playing, only the bass trombone player is living his life for the
chance to play this note. The difference between the bass and the
tenor trombone is as much attitude as it is axe.
Well said.
Christopher
(we ARE living our lives for that note!) 8-)
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