Euterpe, Greek Muse of Music, Playing with a Trombonist?

Candid Euterpe

Last week I posted on an image by Peter de Witte (Peter Candid) that can be found on an impressive array of media: canvas, paper, silver, and glass. While I was researching that image, I found another by the same artist that includes a trombone. It features Euterpe, Greek muse of music. At her feet, [...]

Milan: Fashion, Opera, and Trombone?

Luini Angels

Milan is a city known for both high fashion and opera (home of Giuseppe Verdi and La Scala opera house). But trombone? I recently added a number of entries centering around Milan to the Trombone History Timeline, revealing a fairly active trombone performance tradition in that city. The history of the trombone in Milan seems [...]

Trombone History: The Trombone and Altarpieces

I recently added the below altarpiece to the 16th century timeline. The religious significance of the early trombone is actually reflected in several altarpieces from the 16th and early 17th centuries; I’ve included 5 others in this blog post, all of them currently shown in the timeline. Unlike the trombones on organ cases, which are [...]

Perching on the Pipes: Trombone & Organ Images

Weikersheim detail

I’ve recently added quite a few images of trombone sculptures on organs to the Trombone History Timeline. The dates of origin of these sculptures are difficult to nail down, as the organs on which they are housed tend to have multiple re-builds and renovations throughout their given histories; it is very likely that I have some [...]

Trombone History: Another Angel-Trombonist

passau cathedral

Found the below painting and posted it in the Trombone History Timeline–17th century (2nd half). Another nice religious image. The angel almost looks a bit soulful! 1668-93—Passau, Germany: Carpoforo Tencalla’s fresco in St. Stephan’s Cathedral includes depictions of many angel-musicians, including a trombonist (see facing image; public domain) (Crombie 50).

Trombone History: Angel-Trombonist in 16th Century Altarpiece

Baldung detail

Added a really nice painting by German artist Hans Baldung to the 16th Century Timeline, dating from fairly early in the history of the trombone. The angel’s grip of the slide is interesting, but probably not a literal representation. In general terms, notice the fairly equal balance of religious versus secular trombone iconography from the [...]