Evolution of the Bass Trombone <r>kenton

The evolution of the Bass Trombone


I have been reviewing some turn of the century (19th to 20th) concert band music and find that they frequently have parts for 3 trombones - 1st, 2nd, and Bass.

So, what bass trombone were they thinking of? The trigger bass, or a G bass? I assume that the G bass was at some point superseded by the trigger horn. But, when?

Reply #1 - Aug 22nd, 2008,

What is the range of the parts? Do they require an extended range?

I'm asking because I have a 1909 Holton Bb trombone with an 8" bell, which seems very large for that time if it wasn't a bass.

Reply #3 - Aug 23rd, 2008,

Holst's suites for Military Band date from 1909 and 1911 and are clearly written for G bass (which was the standard of the time in England). If you're ever wondering, anything marked "bass trombone" that appears to avoid low C down to pedal Ab is probably written for G bass, as those notes are "privilege tones" on a G bass (analogous to the Eb through B on a Bb trombone). The clincher is when you see a pedal Bb written into the second or first bone part but not the third.

As far as I know, Sousa did not write for bass trombone, but his band played a wide variety of music, some of which would have required a bass trombone. Doug Yeo has some great pictures of Edward A. Williams of the Sousa band with a Conn bass (with a piston valve!) circa 1910 - 1911.

Lots of regional variation. G bass, F bass, or Bb/F "tenor-bass", depending on what part of the world one was in - though I think the F bass was on the wane in much of the world by the turn of 20th century. Then again, Bartok wrote that B-to-F gliss into his Concerto for Orchestra in 1943, so he expected there to be an F bass available.


Reply #2 - Aug 23rd, 2008,

Good point, so I had to go back and look at the parts. For the most part, they are within range of a tenor trombone, but generally at the bottom of the range.




Reply #4 - Aug 23rd, 2008,

Sousa's band in 1911 clearly shows a trigger bass trombone being used.







Sousa's band in 1909 shows what appears to me to MIGHT be a trigger bass trombone.








Sousa's style of writing for the 3rd trombone was in the traditional bass trombone style where the parts were typically duplicates of the Bb bass saxhorn. i.e., primarily duplicating the Eb bass saxhorn part at or an octave above, and with some duties as 2nd baritone.

A bass trombone makes the parts easier to play and sound better.