Trombone History

By: Dominik L and Brandon R.

Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. quote by, Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

The family of Trombones

The trombone of today comes generally in five ranges: soprano, alto, tenor, bass and contrabass. Special order instruments, such as the piccolo and the sopranino trombone, are known, though their use is generally relegated to trombone bands. The soprano trombone is often referred to as a slide trumpet, but there are internal differences between the two instruments.

Trombones

belong to the brass family.

Similar instruments
In the 1870's, Adolphe Sax and other instrument builders made a sixvalve trombone, where the six valves, manipulated by both hands, corresponded to the six slide positions. Miraphone Contrabass King Trombonium, 1955

Components of a trombone
Tubing The tubing of a trombone is S-shaped and tapers off to a narrower gauge near the mouthpiece. The flow of air through the tubing makes the vibrations that give the trombone its sound. Mouthpiece Trombones use a detachable mouthpiece that affixes to the tapered end of the tubing. This cup-shaped mouthpiece forms a seal with the trombonist's lips, producing a full, clear sound with no squealing. Slide The trombone's slide controls the pitch of the sound produced. Extending the slide lowers the pitch by lengthening the distance the air must travel. Higher pitched notes are played by pulling the slide inward. Valves Some types of trombones use three valves on top of the instrument instead of a slide, similar to a trumpet.

The way sounds is produced by a trombone

Tubing The tubing of a trombone is S-shaped and tapers off to a narrower gauge near the mouthpiece. The flow of air through the tubing makes the vibrations that give the trombone its sound. Mouthpiece Trombones use a detachable mouthpiece that affixes to the tapered end of the tubing. This cup-shaped mouthpiece forms a seal with the trombonist's lips, producing a full, clear sound with no squealing. Slide The trombone's slide controls the pitch of the sound produced. Extending the slide lowers the pitch by lengthening the distance the air must travel. Higher pitched notes are played by pulling the slide inward. Valves Some types of trombones use three valves on top of the instrument instead of a slide, similar to a trumpet.

The time of a trombones inventing

The

trombone was invented in the late 15th century by Flemish instrument makers in Burgundy, a region of modern-day France. It was constructed as an improved version of the slide trumpet.

Style of music played by a trombone

Jazz,

often, as well as classical, pretty much anything a big band or orchestra does.

Famous performers who use trombones

Jonathan

Frakes Conrad Janis Dirk Benedict Harpo Marx Groucho Marx Ward Kimball

Famous composers that wrote trombone music

Most

famous and able composers for the trombone, in orchestral line-up, are Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. Of course there are a lot more composers you could mention, each with his own perspective of how to make use the trombone is his compositions.

J.J Johnson
Maciej Lewandowski Kevin Mota Cristian Diaz

When was the musician alive?

J.J

Johnson was alive during 1924-2001.

Birthplace

Indianapolis, Indiana

Early life

After studying the piano beginning at age 9, Johnson decided to play trombone at the age of 14. In 1941, he started his professional career with Clarence Love, and then played with Snookum Russell in 1942. In Russell's band he met the trumpeter Fats Navarro, who influenced him to play in the style of the tenor saxophonist Lester Young. Johnson played in Benny Carter's orchestra between 1942 and 1945, and made his first recordings in 1942 under Carter's leadership, recording his first solo (on Love for Sale) in October, 1943. In 1944, he took part in the first Jazz at the Philharmonic concert, presented in Los Angeles and organized by Norman Granz .In 1945 he joined the big band of Count Basie, touring and recording with him until 1946.

Rise to Fame.

From the mid-1950s, but especially the early 1960s on, J. J. Johnson dedicated more and more time to composition. He became an active contributor to the Third Stream movement in jazz music, (which included such other notable musicians as Gunther Schuller and John Lewis), and wrote a number of largescale works which incorporated elements of both classical and jazz music. He contributed his Poem for Brass to a Third Stream compilation titled Music for Brass in 1957, and composed a number of original works which were performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In 1961, he composed a suite in six movements, titled Perceptions, with Dizzy Gillespie as soloist. The First International Jazz Festival, held in Washington, D.C. in 1962, featured another extended work. In 1965 he spent time in Vienna to perform and record his Euro Suite with a jazz-classical fusion orchestra led by Friedrich Gulda. In 1968, a Johnson work titled Diversions was commissioned by the American Wind Symphony and performed in Pittsburgh.

Awards
Johnson

was a perennial polling favorite in jazz circles, even winning "Trombonist of the Year" in Down Beat magazine during years he wasn't active. In 1970 he ceased performing in public before making a comeback in the late 1980s. He was voted into the Down Beat Hall of Fame in 1995.

Recordings.
J. J. Johnson- Misty

The Life of Glenn Miller

By: Bridget Bilbo, Sam Palumbo, Kamil Andreasik

When/Where Was He Born?

~Glenn Miller was born on March 1st, 1904 in Clarinda, Iowa.

Early Life
Glen

Miller had a job milking cows and eventually earned enough money to buy his own trombone. In high school as a senior, he realized that he wanted to become a professional musician and started a small band with some classmates.

How did Glenn Miller rise to fame?

During

college, he spent most of his time away from school and played gigs to build his career. He studied with Joseph Schillinger and created his first song Moonlight Serenade. Miller also toured with several groups, eventually landed a solo with Ben Pollacks. After a new member joined and his solo was cut, Miller decided to write music instead.

Now some of Glenn Millers Music At Work

Gleen Miller-In the Mood