Perching on the Pipes: Trombone & Organ Images
January 12, 2010 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
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 of the dates wrong. Nonetheless, they make an interesting little collection of images. The commonalities are 1) with one possible exception, they all appear to depict angel-trombonists, and 2) they all originate from Germany. Obviously, the importance of the trombone in German sacred music (and the German religious tradition in general) is a likely factor.
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1643—Berne, Niedersachsen, Germany: Renovations of the organ at St. Aegidius Church are completed by Harmen Kröger. It is probably at this time (or possibly at the 1714 renovation by Christian Vater) that a sculpture of a trombonist is added to the organ case (see facing detail and full image below; public domain) (Seggermann 29, 53).
1658—Schöningen, Germany: Jonas Weigel completes the organ for St. Vincenzkirche, which includes a sculpture of an angel-trombonist on the organ case. The angel-musician on the opposite side plays the cornetto (see facing detail and full image, below; public domain).
1697-1703—Görlitz, Germany: Eugenio Casparini’s famous organ in the church of St. Peter und Paul features decorative sculpures of angels sitting atop the pipe structure. Each angel holds 2 instruments; 2 of the angels, sitting on opposite outside edges of the structure, hold trombones while playing trumpets (see above) (Sonnaillon 92). For a better image, see here.
1701—Lauffen am Neckar, Germany: The organ housing at the evangelische Kirche St. Regiswindis includes 2 sculptures of angel-trombonists, the angels apparently playing one-handed (see facing detail and full image below; public domain) (Völkl 50).
1714—Lüneburg, Germany: A major rebuild of the organ in Johanniskirche is completed by Matthias Dropa. One of several rebuilds and renovations after the organ’s original installation in 1551-53, it is probably this early 18th-century rebuild that adds the sculptures of what appear to be 2 angel-trombonists perched atop the organ pipes (see facing detail and full image, below; public domain).
1770-73—Salem (Baden), Germany: The organ in Salemer Münster, or Salem Abbey, includes a sculpture of a trombonist atop a set of pipes (see facing detail and full image, below; public domain) (Könner, Abb. 99).
Still Another 17C Italian Angel-Trombonist
December 26, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
Added the below images and caption to the Early 17th Century Trombone History Timeline. The instrument appears to be a trombone, although the left-hand grip of the player is unusual. Again, like many other frescoes from this region and time period, the image would seem to reflect the religious connections in trombone history.
1623—Varese, Italy: Cappella XI, cappella della Resurrezione, of Sacro Monte, is completed. The semicircular apse features a fresco by Isidoro Bianchi that includes what is probably a trombone among one group of angel-musicians (see facing detail and bottom-left of full image, below; click for larger image; public domain) (Angelis 147).
Trombone History: The Trombone in Siena
December 4, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
Added the below painting and entry to the 16th century timeline. The painting originates from Siena, Italy, the location of a surprisingly active trombone scene in the 16th century; there are many, many Sienese entries in the timeline drawn from D’Accone’s excellent book, The Civic Muse, which I include in the trombone history mini-bibliography. Herewith a few of my favorites, showing that, angelic depictions notwithstanding, trombonists were not always perfect:
1467—Siena, Italy: A trombone vacancy in the palace wind band is filled by Frenchman Petro Tristano da Valenza. He begins with a monthly salary of L. 8, but receives a raise to L. 12 within months. Upon the first anniversary of his appointment, he is promised another raise, this one to L. 16, on the condition that he acquire and wear the required uniform worn by the other band members. He apparently refuses to do this, as he is replaced a few months later (D’Accone, Civic Muse 538).
1564—Siena, Italy: Tiberio di Girolamo Rivolti, a trombonist recently hired at the Siena palace, has his meal privileges revoked, apparently for some misdeed. The following day, the order is reversed, and Tiberio is described as “a musician of tender age and of much musical promise.” Four years later, while he is still Palace trombonist, Tiberio is ordered to jail “for writing injurious words on the wall and lying to a colleague.” He eventually becomes one of the most well-respected performers to come out of 16th century Siena (D’Accone, Civic Muse 581, 795).
1580—Siena, Italy: Members of the wind band, including a trombonist, perform at a non-official function without permission. They are subsequently charged by the priors (city rulers) and ordered to be incarcerated for 2 days, along with losing their meal privileges for 6 days. Their sentence is later lowered to 1 day of incarceration (D’Accone, Civic Muse 589).
1585—Siena, Italy: A dispute arises between trombonists in the Palace wind band. According to the record, Alberto Gregori and Giovanbattista Formichi disagree over the right to play “the first bass in the musical ensemble, in truth, the basic and most important part.” Alberto claims that, as the successor to Tiberio, who previously held the post, he should have the position. Giovanbattista’s claim is that “it was an old custom of this chapel that the oldest persons succeeded to this post” and that he deserves the position because of seniority. In the end, the priors (city rulers) decree that each should have the honor a month at a time (D’Accone, Civic Muse 597).
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1594—Siena, Italy: A choir vault in Certosa di Maggiano, painted by Bartolomeo Cesi, features numerous angel-musicians surrounding the Holy Trinity, including a trombone partially obscured by a triangle (Graziani 24).
Trombone History: Angel-Trombonist in 16th Century Altarpiece
November 24, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
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 16th century.
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 facing detail and full image, below; public domain) (Burkhard pl. 2).
Trombone History: early rear-facing trombones
November 12, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
Found the below Italian fresco that features a rear-facing (or over-the-shoulder) trombone and added it to the early 17th century timeline. I know of only one other pre-19th century image that clearly shows such an instrument; I’ve included that image in this post as well (1578). (I have seen a few others that seem to suggest a similar instrument but are more vague, sometimes simply showing what appears to be a slide portion with no bell at all.) The fresco from c. 1615 is also of interest because it has only recently been restored (and, indeed, at the base of the photograph you can see what appear to be some restoration materials). Also noteworthy is the trombone’s bell flare, which is more prominent than usual for this early date. Finally, as I have mentioned several times, it is quite arresting just how many trombone images originate from the 50-year period of 1601-1650.
c. 1615—Cislago, Italy: The Church of Santa Maria della Neve contains an anonymous fresco lunette featuring several angel musicians, including a trombonist. The trombone is particularly noteworthy because it is a rear-facing (sometimes called “over-the-shoulder”) instrument, an unusual configuration for this early date (see facing image; public domain) (Morandi; Farioli). For another early rear-facing instrument, see 1578 in the 16th century timeline, where a cherub-trombonist is featured. In later centuries, particularly the 19th century, rear-facing trombones become much more common; the 19th century timeline includes at least 9 such images.
1578—Antwerp, Belgium: A set of masses by George de La Hele includes an image–an initial D in front of a group of cherub musicians–that features a rear-facing trombone being played by a cherub (also rear-facing) (see facing image; public domain; Wangermée vol. 1 167).
Trombone History: More Trombone Iconography
August 18, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
Added the below image and info to the 16th Century Trombone History Timeline. The artist, Cornelis Court, was well known for making engravings that were copies of pre-existing artworks. In this case, the engraving is after a work by Flemish Renaissance artist Frans Floris. The image, which is obviously symbolic, features a relatively small-looking trombone hanging on the upper right area of the wall. It is nearly impossible to tell, and artists are often less than literal, but the instrument could be an alto trombone. (Compare it proportionally, for example, with the other instruments nearby.)
1565—Musica, an engraving by Dutch artist Cornelis Cort from a series called the Seven Liberal Arts (after works by Frans Floris) includes a small trombone hanging on a wall in the background (see facing image; public domain) (Burgers 99).
Webpage Updates
October 16, 2008 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
November 20, 2008
Trombone History Timeline: Posted an entry from another primary source. This one, an English dictionary titled A New and complete dictionary of arts and sciences, printed in London in 1763-64, is noteworthy because it describes the sackbut, even at this relatively late date, as “a sort of trumpet,” and because it mentions multiple sizes of trombones.
November 19, 2008
•Alto Trombone Timeline: Added an alto trombone entry from an important 17th century primary source, Syntagma Musicum, vol. III (1619), a treatise by Michael Praetorius. Praetorius mentions the alto trombone several times throughout this particular volume, suggesting it for a number of different musical settings.
•Added an entry in both the Trombone History Timeline and the Alto Trombone Timeline on Kresser’s 12 Quatuors (1844), which are scored for either 4 cornets or 3 cornets and alto trombone. This piece is interesting because it is from France, where alto was not as common as it was in other regions, and because the date represents a time period in which the alto trombone is normally said to be in decline.
November 17, 2008
•Trombone History Timeline: Added entries from 2 new primary sources: Francis North’s A philosophical essay of musick (1677) and a record of the coronation of George III from The Royal Magazine or Gentleman’s Monthly Companion (1761). Also added 2 lithographs of Belgian infantry trombonists (1831 and c. 1850), who seemed to favor rear-facing horns (see also Belgian infantry image of 1824). Also of note regarding trombone playing in Belgium during this period are comments by British travelers George Smart (see 1825) and Vincent Novello (see 1829).
November 7, 2008
•Trombone History Timeline: Finished posting works from the “Chronological Overview” of Klaus Winkler’s book, Selbständige instrumentalwerke mit Posaune in Oberitalien von 1590 bis 1650. The sheer number of instrumental pieces (Winkler lists more than 150) scored for trombone from this period and region (upper Italy from 1590 to 1680) is noteworthy. Why is it that one doesn’t hear more about early Baroque music for trombone? Most of us know Gabrieli’s music, for example, but what about all the sonatas of Castello and Buonamente or the canzoni of Banchieri and Picchi? There may be a body of original music we’re not really utilizing.
November 4, 2008
•Got a nice note about the historical parts of the site from Stewart Carter, Executive Editor of the Historic Brass Society Journal. (Added a link to Historic Brass Society under “Organizations” on front page.) He is working on a book on early trombone history, which I’m sure will be excellent. Stay tuned for details!
October 28, 2008
•Trombone History Timeline: Posted color images of The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence, an oil painting from 17th century Mexico City by artist José Juárez. The painting depicts several angel-musicians, including an angel playing trombone. The numerous paintings and other entries indicating trombone activity in the region are noteworthy in trombone history because, for whatever reason, most brass historians make little or no mention of the trombone in colonial Latin America.
October 27, 2008
•Trombone History Timeline: Posted image from 18th century from the title page of Hirschberger’s Philomena Cisterciensis (Burghausen, 1743). Almost any trombone activity during this century is of interest, since historians point to this period as one of steep decline for the instrument.
October 24, 2008
•Trombone History Timeline: Posted several 19th century entries on Anton Bruckner, an important composer in the history of the trombone. Examples include his Zwei Aequale for 3 trombones, as well as numerous works for choir and trombones. The source is Keith William Kinder’s The Wind and Wind-Chorus Music of Anton Bruckner.
October 23, 2008:
•Trombone History Timeline and Alto Trombone Timeline: Added two entries about extant instruments from the 19th and early 20th centuries, with photographs used by the gracious permission of Brass Players Museum: www.neillins.com/brass.htm. The alto trombone, manufactured in England in the 1870s, is interesting in that it dates from the time of the supposed decline of the alto and is a valved instrument.
•Updated post about American Brass Quintet mini-residency at BYU. All events are open to the public! All events except the formal concert are free!
October 22, 2008:
•Trombone History Timeline: Posted entries from the 19th century on the career of German trombone virtuoso Carl Queisser, who performed as soloist at Leipzig’s prestigious Gewandhaus a remarkable 26 times–more than many of the era’s most famous instrumental soloists, including Paganini, Liszt, Hummel, and Clara Schumann. In light of the fact that many historians claim that trombone was never a solo instrument until well into the 20th century, the career of this prominent trombone soloist is truly intriguing. A respected music periodical of the time summed up Queisser’s influence thus: “Truly we live in an age of trombones.” Also added to the timeline are entries about trombone soloist Friederich Belcke, who seems to have paved the way for Queisser, as well as a few other soloists who followed Queisser. The information comes from Michael Lewis’s excellent article, “Solo Trombone Performances at the Gewandhaus” (ITA Journal, Summer 1992).
October 20, 2008:
•Added Spanish altarpiece with a young trombone-playing angel, dating from c. 1620-24 to Trombone History Timeline.
October 16, 2008:
•Added several entries about Moravian trombone playing in the 18th century to the Trombone History Timeline.
•Added 2 paintings by Italian artist Lionello Spada that include clear depictions of the trombone in the early 17th century.
October 13, 2008:
•Added newly-released Utah Trombone Authority CD to the Store. Check it out!