[Trombone-l] alto trombone question

[Raymond Horton]

Trombone parts have never been transposed (other than British Brass Band 
and this new, rumored, "World Music" bass clef in Bb thing that is 
springing up).


We ought to be very glad that alto trombone parts were never transposed, 
otherwise parts that are labeled alto but are never, or rarely, played 
on alto, would be even harder on tenor:  Bruckner symphonies (which were 
written for tenor but labeled alto by the publisher) being the ultimate 
examples. 


First trombone parts throughout the 19th century were labeled "alto" 
long after the alto trombone fell out of use.  I recently played a 
choral gig where the conductor insisted the first player play alto 
("that's what the part says!") on the Rossini _Stabat Mater_.  Poor guy 
had a time of it, trying to play in tune, in all the middle register 
flat keys - ridiculous.


Raymond Horton
Louisville Orchestra


Adrian Drover wrote:
>> From: Jason Smith
>>
>> I have recently purchased and am struggling to learn
>> the alto trombone.  I bought a copy of L Mozart's
>> concerto and am trying to learn.  My question is this
>> Why is alto trombone music not written transposed like
>> so that the positions correspond to the notes on tenor
>> rather than learn a whole new set of notes and
>> positions.  To me it would seem to facilitate
>> switching back and forth, tuning tendencies would
>> correspond to the same position on the harmonic series
>> etc.  I entered the music into finale but in bass
>> clef,  did a quick transposition and now I can
>> actually come close to playing rather than trying to
>> learn a who new set of positions?
>>     
>
>
> I guess the reason for not having alto trombone parts transposed for you is
> because ALL trombone parts are non-transposed, whatever their pitch (unless
> you play tenor trombone in a British style brass band).  You either have to
> transpose mentally or learn a different set of slide positions.  I have been
> doing the former ever since I started playing Bb trombone.  Seemed like the
> easiest route for an ex-cornet player.  The added difficulty with alto
> trombone in Eb is that you have to learn an obscure clef as well as
> transpose the part up a major 6th, and not only that, but the positions are
> closer together too.  The good news is that if you are determined,
> familiarity sets in quite quickly whichever route you choose to follow.
>
> A.
>
>
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