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The Trombone
The trombone is similar to the
trumpet
in terms of sound production, yet instead
of valves, as in the trumpet, it uses a slide, moving in and out, in order
to shorten and extend the instrument's bore, thus changing sound pitch.
The slide allows the trombonist to produce the glissando,
an effect in which you slide from note to note without interruption.
The trombone joined the symphonic
orchestra already in Mozart's
days (it has a significant part in his opera
"The Magic Flute"
and in the famous Tuba mirum
part from his Requiem K626).
Beethoven
was the first to integrate it in a symphony
(Symphony no.
5).
The symphonic orchestra includes two tenor
trombones and one bass trombone.
It is believed that the trombone
existed as early as in ancient Rome.
In medieval
times, it was used by European nobility, and
from the 16th century and on, assisted choirs by strengthening some of
the singing parts. Bach
and Handel
used it in this manner in the Baroque
period. In Orff's
admired work "Carmina Burana",
he made much use of the trombone. Ravel
gives the trombone a solo part on the theme
melody in his all-popular "Bolero",
including a glissando.
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Composers
Bach
Handel
Mozart
Beethoven
Orff
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