Trombone History: Update from Museum of Musical Instruments–Poznan, Poland
July 20, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
An update from Patryk Frankowski, senior assistant at the Museum of Musical Instruments in Poznan, Poland: Mr. Frankowski has shared information about 2 additional alto trombones, both pre-1800, not listed in Trevor Herbert’s book, The Trombone, or subsequently on my list, Extant Altos. Both held at Mr. Frankowski’s museum, they are a 1722-71 Ehe alto trombone in E-flat and a 1793 Flemming alto trombone in E. I also received a related personal email from Trevor Herbert verifying that such omissions are not uncommon, as compilers often have to rely on communication from museum curators, etc.
These instruments are now included on the Extant Altos page, with a brief note of explanation. This is noteworthy information, bringing the overall tally of extant pre-1800 trombones to 64 tenors, 31 altos, and 22 basses.
Mr. Frankowski has also recently offered important information about another instrument on the list (see related entry). Thank you, Mr. Patryk Frakowski, for the excellent information!
Note from Museum of Musical Instruments–Poznan, Poland
July 7, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
Got a note this morning from Patryk Frankowski, senior assistant at the Museum of Musical Instruments in Poznan, Poland. According to Mr. Frankowski, one of the alto trombones listed by Trevor Herbert in his book, The Trombone, and subsequently listed in my page on Extant Alto Trombones, is actually a tenor trombone. Apparently the instrument, a Georg Schmied 1697 trombone held in his museum, was brought to the museum with an original tenor trombone bell, but with an alto trombone slide section that had been added later. I quote Mr. Frankowski: “Georg Schmied 1697 trombone which is in our museum is tenor trombone and only bell part is original. Instrument comes to museum with alto trombone slide part so probably it is why Mr. Trevor Herbert list this instrument as alto. I presume that he got wrong information.” Thank you to Patryk Frankowski for the information; I will make a note of it on the Extant Alto Trombones page!