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G Bass Trombones, Double-belled Euphoniums, and other plumbing


On Sat, 24 Feb 1996, Nigel Horne wrote:

> > > Also, a new trivia thread: Does anyone know the last time that a 
> > > G trombone was used in a British contest? Who was the offending :-)
> > > band? Player?  I remember my Grandad doing his practice, "Wakk Wakk
> > > KWAKK!!" 
> > 
> > I don't know, but quite recent music is printed saying "G Trombone",
> > against a bass clef part written in concert pitch. Confused?
> > You will be :-)
> > 
> > Not being a trombonist, am I correct in saying that the triggers on
> > modern trombones give Eb and/or F?

Usually only F (= 6th position), which effects all positions (longer) 
while the trigger is engaged.

> > Were G trombone parts ever written in G?
> 
> Silkstone Band (2nd section Yorkshire) still use a G trombone.
> 
> -Nigel

In London, Ontario, Canada, there is a newly formed British style brass 
band called The Plumbing Factory Brass Band which started rehearsals last 
fall.  I am the director, and the name comes from the good-humoured 
nickname for my personal collection of musical instruments (mostly 
brasses) numbering about 2100 at this point and still growing.  Naturally 
in my "museum" there are several of the scarcer horns, and we have been 
using one of four G bass trombones that I own in the PFBB.  I also have 6 
double-belled euphoniums, and one of those is presently in use with the 
group as well.  The membership of the PFBB comes largely from 
professional and amateur brass players in the region with several 
senior-level brass majors at the University of Western Ontario, including 
graduate students, plus UWO alumni, teachers, orchestra musicians, church 
organists who are resuming brass playing, etc.  One fine young trombonist 
has picked up the G bass trombone and plays quite fluently on it already.  

I have not seen G Bass parts written in other than the sounding key in 
bass clef, though it might be easier for modern players to adapt to the 
instrument if it were transposed so that they could use their usual 
positions on a visually correct part in either clef (first position as C 
in treble clef or Bb in bass clef, but sounding G).  Perhaps my player is 
fluent in baritone clef (where middle c is the top line of the staff) and 
pretends that's the clef of the part, mentally adding 3 flats to the key 
signature (the "difference" between G and B-flat).  Similar to my 
non-treble-clef reading tenor trombonists who relate to the treble clef 
by reading it as if it were in tenor clef and adding two flats.  In North 
America (outside of the Salvation Army) there is no tradition for treble 
clef reading by the low brasses.  This has caused some grief for some of 
my players, but we are gaining versatile members at each weekly 
rehearsal, as our exploits reach farther afield.  Our first concert 
is scheduled for April 24th.  

Next year the group will appear on my L'Harmonie Universelle Ancienne's 
10th season (authentic early music concerts on period instruments) along 
with my baroque orchestra, my 1790s "King's Band of Musick" (which 
includes serpent and valveless trumpets and horns), my 1850s 
"Vintage Brass Band" (a Civil War era over-the-shoulder saxhorn band 
sometimes incorporating keyed bugle and ophicleide), my "Ragamajazz" 
ragtime band, and my "Queen's Quadrille & Quickstep Society Orchestra" 
Victorian Ball dance band.  The PFBB will do a retrospective of 
19th-century brass band repertoire, hopefully all on 19th-century 
instruments from my collection.  Anyway, just a note to introduce 
ourselves and say that we also are using a G bass trombone.

Cheers,

Dr. Henry Meredith, Assoc. Prof., Faculty of Music, Univ. of Western Ont.
Historical Brass performer (specialties include baroque trumpet, keyed 
trumpet, hand horn, keyed bugle, cornopean, saxhorns, Eb & Bb cornet, etc.)
Director, Plumbing Factory Brass Band

<drhank@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>


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