[Trombone-l] Brass Band music for Tenor Trombone

[thetubameister@roadrunner.com]

Interesting side note - there were some valve Eb bass trombones which allowed reading the bass clef parts as Eb transposing treble (just change the clef and key).  There was also a rather unusual pully system Eb bass trombone patent (and perhaps an extant instrument) which also allowed this.

J.c.S.

---- Martin Hubel <mhubel at gmail.com> wrote: 
> Hi,
> British brass band music is written in Bb treble clef for the first and
> second trombones. The Eb instruments, being the Eb soprano cornet,
> alto/tenor horn and Eb bass are in Eb. Essentially, this means that any
> player of a Bb or Eb instrument can easily transfer to another instrument
> and immediately read the parts using the same valve technique. Switching
> instruments could often be required to balance the band in a small town.
> 
> For tenor trombones, the Bb treble clef is like reading Bb trumpet music if
> you have had occasion to do that. The easiest way to read this for many
> trombone players is to consider it tenor clef and add 2 flats. This works
> well. Some older arrangements we play are in tenor clef, so players need
> this skill as well.
> 
> The only non-transposing instrument is the bass trombone. The reason was
> this was a G instrument, and this required additional ability to learn the
> positions. I doubt a transposition to Bb would have been easy, meaningful
> (or correct). My advice is to find a good brass band bass trombone player
> and forgo the player who "can't read treble clef". The bass trombone is a
> solo instrument in brass band and a good player can make the band smile.
> 
> I hope this helps.
> --Martin
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 9:12 AM, <thetubameister at roadrunner.com> wrote:
> 
> > British Brass Band music is typically scored for 2 tenor trombones in Bb
> > transposing Treble Clef (which tenor clef readers adapt to very quickly) and
> > 1 bass trombone in Bass Clef concert pitch.  Really long explanation as to
> > why, but there it is.
> >
> > J.c.S.
> > ---- PrivtBnkr at aol.com wrote:
> > > Good morning everyone...
> > >
> > > There is talk about the formation of a brass band in our area...I
> > > understand that most of the brass band music is written for trombone in
> > either
> > > Concert C or Concert B flat...
> > >
> > > Can I get some clarification from our listers about how best to prepare
> > for
> > >  reading this music?
> > >
> > > Many thanks!
> > >
> > >
> > > George
> > > Florida
> > > **************Looking for love this summer? Find it now on AOL Personals.
> > > (http://personals.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntuslove00000003)
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