[Trombone-l] When to use what instrumentation

[Wayne Dyess]

That makes sense.  I don't own an alto any more anyway, so I while I  
might reach---I don't get.

I don't have any real problems with range anyway.  But every now and  
again I have been accused of being too loud... especially in our  
orchestra.

(ahem)

--Wayne


On Nov 8, 2007, at 9:53 AM, ALEX ILES wrote:

> That is a fairly good rule of thumb Wayne, but for me, it is the  
> sound of the alto that determines when I reach for it. It is a very  
> different sounding instrument. [Especially when you first start!!].
>
> And it is this difference in sound that determines when/where I use  
> alto. Regardless of the register.
>
> D's, Eb's, E's and F's are not that much easier for me on alto.  
> And, B's above middle C can be just as squirrelly as B's on tenor  
> [sigh...]
>
> The first trombone parts of Mozart, Mendelssohn, Schubert,  
> Schumann, Beethoven, certain Brahms, etc. mostly sound best on alto  
> to my ear, and a few of these parts are not even that high [maybe  
> some c's here and there], but it is the sound and musical context  
> that determines that choice for me. Yes, my system is highly  
> subjective, and at the same time , I do not adhere too much to a  
> "historical accurate" point of view. I think that there is usually  
> not enough time to debate these things between now and a gig!!
>
> Ultimately, I "pick the horn that works"!!
>
> Also, depending on the situation, why walk into ANY performance  
> setting playing an unfamiliar/uncomfortable instrument?!?
>
> I don't know...
>
> I just don't see much point in being "musically inaccurate" at the  
> cost of being  "historically accurate"!!
>
> LX