Trombone History: A Soldier I Will Be
April 1, 2010 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
Recently added quite a few images to the trombone history timeline (19th century–1st half, 19th century–2nd half, 20th century) related to the trombone in the military. Here they are, below, along with their captions. As always, for sources, see the Trombone History Bibliography.
1804-1815—France: A military illustration labeled French Napoleonic Band depicts the foot grenadiers of the 1st Regimental Imperial Army Old Guard, including two trombonists marching with buccin-style instruments (trombones with dragon-head bells) (see above detail and full image; public domain) (Cassin-Scott and Fabb 15).
c. 1839—Fribourg, Switzerland: Musica militaris, a print depicting musicians of the boarding school of Fribourg, features a percussionist and a trombonist with a rear-facing bell (see above image; public domain) (Bovet and Curchod 28). For a similar image from Belgium, see 1831, above.
1840—France: A print depicting a Napoleonic military band includes what could be a buccin-style trombone (dragon-head bell) (see far left of above image; public domain) (Brenet 125). For a similar image, see 1804-1815, above.
1908—England: Military illustrator John McNeil (b. 1872) paints numerous military watercolors for Gale & Polden, including two that feature trombone: Highland Light Infantry (see upper image; Harrington 10) and Worcester Regiment (see above lower; Harrington 39) (images public domain).
Trombone History: The Trombone and Altarpieces
January 27, 2010 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
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 clearly centered in Germany, the altarpieces seem to be spread throughout Europe.
Peter Spring altarpiece, Fribourg
1592-1601—Fribourg, Switzerland: The Augustinian monastery’s altarpiece by Peter Spring depicts a group of angel-musicians, including an angel playing a trombone (see above image; public domain) (Wold 82).
Detail, The Engagement of St. Ursula and Prince Etherius
The Engagement of St. Ursula and Prince Etherius
c. 1520—Spain: The Engagement of St. Ursula and Prince Etherius, sometimes also titled St. Ursula and Prince Etherius Making a Solemn Vow, a panel painting from the Master of Saint Auta Altarpiece, depicts a trombonist with a wind band performing from a loft or window. The painting may represent the earliest visual depiction of a black trombonist (see above detail and full image; public domain) (Lisbon, Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Inv. No. 597) (Bowles, Musikleben 30-31).
Detail, Hans Baldung, Coronation of the Virgin
Hans Baldung, Coronation of the Virgin
1516—Freiburg, Germany: Hans Baldung’s painting, Coronation of the Virgin, the central panel of an altarpiece located in the Freiburg Cathedral, includes an angel-trombonist among a group of angels playing wind instruments above and to the left of the Virgin (see above detail and full image; public domain) (Burkhard pl. 2).
Detail, Elsheimer, The Exaltation of the Cross
c. 1595—Frankfurt, Germany: Adam Elsheimer’s, The Exaltation of the Cross, part of an altarpiece of several copper panels, portrays an angel playing trombone among a group of other angel musicians. Elsheimer, known for his variety of light effects, places the trombonist near the burst of light at the top of the painting (see above detail; public domain: wikimedia commons) (Klessmann).
Lastmann, David in the Temple
1618—Pieter Lastmann’s altar scene, David in the Temple, portrays a trombone performing with voices, tamborine, pommer, and 2 string instruments (see above image; public domain) (Kinsky 177; Buchner 254).
Bueno and Cano, Virgin of the Rosary altarpiece
c. 1620-24—Seville, Spain: The altarpiece of the Virgin of the Rosary of the Parish of Santa Ana, probably painted by Diego López Bueno and Miguel Cano, includes a depiction of an angel playing trombone (see bottom-right of above image; public domain image) (Alonso Cano 613).