Wedding Bells: Trombone in Wedding Celebrations
February 18, 2010 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
I just added another image to the 19th century timeline, another depiction of a wedding celebration that includes trombone (c. 1885, shown below). Wedding celebrations constitute a fairly common theme in trombone history, with a total of 14 related images spread throughout the Trombone History Timeline. They’re shown together below. The bulk of them are from 16th-century festival books, but there is still a fair amount of variety in evidence, amounting to an intriguing set of images spanning nearly the complete history of the trombone.
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 below detail and full image; public domain) (Lisbon, Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Inv. No. 597) (Bowles, Musikleben 30-31).
1538—Germany: Heinrich Aldegrever portrays a trio of trombone and 2 trumpets in a woodcut titled The Brass Players (Die Posaunisten) from the series The Great Wedding Dances (see below image; public domain) (Duffin, Trompette des Menestrels).
1549—Munich, Germany: Outdoor Feast, a painting by Hans Mielich (Müelich), court painter for Duke Albrecht V, depicts an outdoor wedding banquet. The music ensemble includes 2 trombone players, one of whom appears to have multiple instruments in his hands and is apparently in the act of switching from one trombone to another. The painting also shows, in a different area, a dance band consisting of 2 trombones and another instrument (probably a shawm) (see below image; public domain) (Kenton plate 14; Buchner plate 95).
1566—Giorgio Vasari’s image of a muse holding an instrument features what Edmund Bowles labels an alto trombone. If it is indeed a trombone, it is a somewhat awkwardly-rendered depiction. The image is associated with a performance of The Genealogy of the Gods for the wedding festivities of Prince Francesco de’ Medici and Johanna of Austria (see below image from festival book; public domain) (Bowles, Musical Ensembles 55).
1580—Innsbruck, Austria: A procession to a tournament that is part of marriage celebrations of Johann Lipsteinsky von Kolowrat and Katharina von Boymont und Pairsberg includes a trio of dulzian and 2 trombones (see below image from festival book; public domain) (Bowles, Musical Ensembles 85, 89).
1582—Dresden, Germany: In a procession celebrating the marriage of Christian I of Saxony, a symbolic entourage of Bacchus includes a quartet of 2 trombones, cornett, and tenor shawm (see below image from festival book; public domain) (Bowles 103-4).
1584—Dresden, Germany: A procession during wedding festivities for Balthasar Wurm and Anton von Sahlhausen at the court of Saxony, includes 8 musicians dressed as women, playing trombone, lute, cittern, treble viol, bass recorder, tenor viol, transverse flute, and clavichord; a graphic representation of the procession shows the trombone at the head of the group (see below image from festival book; public domain). Another ensemble in the procession consists of bass recorder, cornetts, bombard, and trombones (Bowles, Musical Ensembles 105, 107).
c. 1600—Fackeltanz bei Fürstenhochzeit, an anonymous image, possibly from Germany, depicts a torch dance at a prince’s wedding. Instrumentalists supplying the dance music from a balcony include a tombonist (see below image; public domain) (Salmen, Tanz im 17 153).
1609—Stuttgart, Germany: At the wedding celebrations of Archduke Johann Friedrich of Württemberg-Teck and Markgräfin Barbara Sophia of Brandenburg, a trio of trombone, cornetto, and bombard is featured in the Entourage of Young Court Noblemen (see below image from festival book; public domain) (Bowles, Musical Ensembles 177). In a separate performance, “As soon as the noble party had arrived at the [court] chapel, there could be heard the trombones, trumpets and kettledrums [along] with two choruses placed opposite each other” (Bowles, Timpani 370). Also in connection with the celebrations, according to records of the time, “There was a completely glorious musical performance, with 20 voices and five ensembles with all kinds of instruments, such as lutes, fiddles, bassoons, dulzians, cornetts, trombones and others” (Bowles, Musical Ensembles 167).
1650—Turin, Italy: Marriage festivities for Princess Adelaide of Savoy and Prince Ferdinand Maria of Bavaria include trombones. First, on the way to the Cathedral of San Giovanni for the service itself, “Swiss Guards and arquebusiers of Their Majesties…lent their presence to the retinue setting out for the cathedral from the great hall of the palace [along] with trumpets, trombones, oboes and drums.” After the wedding service there are “signals by trumpets and trombones to those present who, because of the huge crowd, couldn’t observe the nuptials.” Later, during a series of races in the palace courtyard, races alternate with musical performances by musicians in a gallery (see below image from festival book; public domain): “From the other palace, above the gallery, among the various events alternating with the races was the reverberation of the sound of an ensemble of instruments; that is, trumpets which, animated by the virtue of such glorious love [of the newlyweds] became the voices of Fame; trombones, which, with harmonious notes echoed the praises of everyone, rousing more ardently by the hour the affections…” (Bowles 275-279).
c. 1855—Artist Albert Kindler includes a trombonist in his painting After the Wedding. The trombonist stands in the musicians’ boat in the background (see below detail and full image below; public domain).
c. 1860—Peru: Artist Pancho Fierro depicts a trombonist performing with a wind band for a Peruvian wedding celebration in Fiesta de Matrimonio (see below detail and full image below; public domain) (Lavalle 38).
c. 1885—Norway: A wood engraving titled A Gay Procession, signed by Günther, depicts what is probably a wedding procession in the Norwegian countryside. A trombonist leads the way, accompanied by trumpet and horn (see below image; public domain) (source: New York Public Library Digital Gallery).
c. 1890—Italy: Antonio Lonza’s painting, Newly Married Couple, includes a trombonist as part of an ensemble performing outdoors for a wedding celebration. The trombone appears to have a double slide (see below image, after Lonza painting; public domain) (Seidl, vol. 2, 325).
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).
Yet Another Angel-Trombonist from 17th-Century Italy
December 21, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
I recently posted a blog entry (here) that mentioned how common paintings of angel-trombonists from 17th-century Italy are, reflecting as they do the sacred nature of the trombone. Below is yet another painting that I’ve located. The detail of the top portion, along with the entry, has been posted in the 17th century timeline (first half). The full image, included here below the detail, was not included in the timeline because of space. The painting is noteworthy for its expressive, individualistic style.
c. 1625—Ascona, Italy: Giovanni Serodine paints Coronation of the Virgin with Saints in Ascona’s parish church. The image features a consort of angel-musicians playing 2 viols, cornetto, and trombone (see facing detail of top portion of painting; public domain).
Serodine, Coronation of the Virgin, upper detail
Serodine, Coronation of the Virgin, full image
Trombone History: What a Relief
December 8, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
Added the following image and entry to the 17th century (first half) trombone history timeline:
1602—Weikersheim Castle, Germany: An organ for the castle chapel is made by Georg Schweitzer. The case just below the organ contains an image of a trombonist performing with a flute, viol, and organ (see facing detail and full image below; public domain) (Völkl 39).
Trombone History: Another Curious Image
December 7, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
Added the below trombone images and entry to the 16th Century (first half) Timeline. This particular trombone image shows characteristics of both a slide trumpet (e.g., the long bell section, the low brace between bell and slide that would preclude movement of a double slide) and a trombone (e.g., a possible double slide, the overall length, the way the instrument is not being gripped near the mouth, and the curve of tubing that extends behind the head). This depiction’s ambiguity places it among other “Curious Images” that may represent the transition between slide trumpet and trombone. As always, the thing to remember, of course, is that artwork is not always literal.
1608—Gravedona, Italy: Glory of God the Father and the Angels, a fresco by Giovanni Mauro della Rovere (also known as Fiammenghino), located in the Church of Santi Gusmeo e Matteo, includes a depiction of what could be a trombone. The instrument has characteristics of both slide trumpet and trombone; it could simply be an awkwardly-rendered depiction of either instrument. Other nearby angel-musicians play viol, organ, flute, and lute (see facing detail and medium detail below; public domain) (Angelis 43).
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).
________________________________________________________________________________
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: Another angel-trombonist
December 2, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
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: Two British Images
December 2, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
Added two new images, both of them British in origin, to the Trombone History Timeline, 17th century (first half) and 17th century (second half)—
Smith, organ case
1643—London, England: A painting on an the case of an organ by Christian Smith depicts a trombonist (see facing image; public domain) (Parrott, Grett and Solompne Singing).
Marcellus Laroon, Waits
c. 1680—England: A wash drawing attributed to Marcellus Laroon depicts a group of 17th century town waits—3 shawms and a trombone (see facing image; public domain) (Herbert, Sackbut 77; Parrott, Grett and Solompne Singing).
Trombone History: Saint Cecilia and the Trombone
November 30, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
Added another image to the 17th Century (first half) timeline. St. Cecilia is, of course, the patron saint of musicians; it is said that she sang to God as she was dying. This particular painting seems to have a pretty clear depiction of at least one trombone, while hinting at two others nearby. Here’s the image and timeline entry:
c. 1630—Italian artist Ortensio Crespi’s St. Cecilia includes one fairly clear depiction of a trombone at the foot of the painting, as well as what appear to be two additional partially-obscured trombones on the other side of the viol (see facing image; public domain).
Trombone Image: 20th Century Sculpture Inspired by 16th Century Print
November 29, 2009 by wkimball · Leave a Comment
Added the following to the 20th Century Trombone History Timeline:
1989—Soest, Germany: Sculptor Kord Winter fashions a trio of musicians in honor of one of the city’s most famous residents, 16th century artist Heinrich Aldegrever. The sculpture makes reference to Aldegrever’s Die Posaunisten from the series The Great Wedding Dances of 1538 (see 16th century timeline) (see above image; public domain) (source: wikimedia commons; see also www.kordwinter.de/objekte/Brunnen/brunnen.html).
Below is the image by Aldegrever from the 16th century, along with its entry from the timeline. Notice that Winter retains some interesting details from Aldegrever’s print, including the trombonist’s left-handed playing position, his slide grip, and the banner attached to the slide.
1538—Germany: Heinrich Aldegrever portrays a trio of trombone and 2 trumpets in a woodcut titled The Brass Players (Die Posaunisten) from the series The Great Wedding Dances (see facing image; public domain) (Duffin, Trompette des Menestrels).