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the chromatic trombone thread

Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2022 8:47 am
by bloke
Quite a few of the (even) boutique (current offerings) F-attachment TENOR trombones – unlike most of those of fifty years ago – do NOT feature an F-attachment tuning slides which feature enough pull and length to alternately function as a quint valve.
Thus, even some of the “tuba-priced” trombones are not fully chromatic - incapable of producing a double low b-natural.
Either two valves - dependent or independent - like a bass, or retreating to previous wrap designs - allowing for an additional pull of an F semitone - seem (to me) to be in order, particularly as range continues to be extended downward on low brass instruments, and as composers/arrangers become more-and-more ignorant.

OK...and even more trolling:
Open wrap is humbug. :smilie7:

[[ Of course, NO-attachment trombones completely have their place, just as do 3-valve tubas, so this point need not be brought up. ]]

Discuss:

Re: the chromatic trombone thread

Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2022 10:16 am
by donn
If players continue to accommodate arrangers who write ridiculous notes for their instruments, they will continue to write more ridiculous notes.

Re: the chromatic trombone thread

Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2022 10:33 am
by bloke
donn wrote: Sat Jan 01, 2022 10:16 am If players continue to accommodate arrangers who write ridiculous notes for their instruments, they will continue to write more ridiculous notes.
At a church gig (perhaps five years ago...though I'm often "way off" when remembering "how long ago"), one of the charts' bass trombone parts was idiotically written in the four-to-six ledgers lines (below) range. Of course, my buddy can play down there, and (rather than playing where the part would have sounded "good") he decided to carry out the composer's/arranger's ill-advised wishes - including the fff (etc.) dynamics.
The choir director never said a word. :bugeyes:
I laughed...a lot.

...but (to counter your argument) take a look at uilleann pipes...and these have looked like this for QUITE some time...

Image

Re: the chromatic trombone thread

Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2022 11:53 am
by Mary Ann
Back when I was an up and coming Irish fiddle player, I wanted to learn those pipes. Fortunately the opportunity did not arise and I still have my sanity. Which will be used up, I'm sure, on other double reed instruments.