As a brass musical instrument, trombone probability does not need an introduction. This instrument has popularity all over the world, and many music enthusiasts express their desire to learn to play it. Depending on the uses, you may find different sizes of trombones. Originally introduced in the mid-15th century, trombone has become an integral part of the human civilization's musical journey. Though you know many things about the instrument, you may still not be aware of some mind-blowing facts about trombones. Explore some interesting and unknown facts about trombones in the following section.
1. Trombone Was Not Trombone in the Beginning
Until the 18th century, trombone was not known as trombone. Instead of trombone, people used to call this brass instrument Saqueboute, which is a French word. In English, it was commonly known as Sackbut. According to the experts, the word Saqueboute came from the French word Sacquer, which means drawing out something.
In the 18th century, the term trombone was first coined. Trombone means large trumpet. Since this brass instrument is similar to a trumpet, musicians in Europe started calling it trumpet. However, the trombone has a wider pitch compared to the regular trumpets.
2. A Sacred Instrument
Nowadays, trombone is a common instrument for musical bands. However, till the 18th century, the instrument was used to play music in the churches. For this reason, this brass instrument was known as a sacred instrument. Some experts also refer to them as divine instruments since they have been used to play music in the churches. Music composers gradually started using this instrument for various compositions.
3. Connection with Beethoven
Trombone was a music instrument in the church until Beethoven had found this instrument. He was the first person to use trombone outside the religious musical ceremonies. In 1808, a symphony was played by Beethoven. This was the first commercial use of the trombone as a musical instrument. Since then, trombone has become an integral part of various famous and legendary music bands and compositions.
4. Different Varieties of Trombone
Trombones come in various varieties, and it is a well-known fact. However, people often do not realize that the pitches vary with the variety of trombones. The commonest type of trombone is known as tenor trombone. You can find the use of this trombone in different musical genres such as jazz, pop music, and more. Another popular trombone type is the bass trombone, which has been used to produce bass music.
5. Raising Pitch While Extending the Slide
While using trombone, musicians can still raise pitch while extending the slide. Typically, extending the slide refers to lowering the notes. However, musicians can adjust the embouchure to play the higher notes even when they extend the slides.
Bottom Line
So, these are some of the interesting facts to keep in mind if you are a trombone enthusiast. This brass musical instrument is popular throughout the world. Brass Exchange is an online shop for various brass instruments, including trombone and different types of trumpets. You can check our products and order them online.
