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Re: Further to Alto Cornet

To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Further to Alto Cornet
From: Alastair Wheeler <alastair.wheeler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 23:35:45 +0000 (GMT)
In-reply-to: <Pine.3.89.9702211231.A8790-0100000@mach1.wlu.ca>
Priority: low
Reply-to: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

On Fri, 21 Feb 1997, Raymond Sturge u wrote:

<snip>

> I think the alto's best use is definetly in trombone ensembles and 
> choirs because of it's range and colour.  Its use in orchestras seems to 
> be on an increase lately.  For years, trombonists played the alto part 
> on their tenor because of the tenors bigger and fuller sound (solo in 
> Bolero - Ravel).  Alto is great for music written for sakbut too.  It's 

French composerts always wrote for TTT not ATB trombones.  The Bolero solo 
has a range of 2 octaves from C to high Db (concert) and would be very silly on 
an alto.  The last note would be equivalent to a low A on a peck-horn, 
not recommended.

> use in brass bands would prove to be interesting but it produces a thin 
> sound and I don't think it would blend very well, being burried by the 

Early 19th centuary bands sometimes used ATB.  There must be a reason why 
this died out, my guess being that the alto couldn't support the tenor 
in mid-range unisons very well, and was only useful for 'pinging'.  
This would coincide with increased melodic, rather than purely harmonic, 
use of the trombones.

> rest of the band.  Another mis-conception about playing alto trombone is  
> "instant high-range".  This is definetly not a true statement.

No, but you do get more security.  You'd have to be a loony/ 
_extremely_good_ to play Beethovan 5 on tenor.

> Mark Sturge
> SA bandsman
> Principal trombone - WLU Symphony Orchestra
> Bass trombone - WLU Wind Ensemble
> Trombone - WLU Brass Quintet
> 
> 
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-- 
  Alastair Wheeler
  Euphonium, Bass Trombone
  Alastair.Wheeler@xxxxxxxxxxxx   http://users.ox.ac.uk/~newc0349/
  "I am following my fish"

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References:
- Re: Further to Alto Cornet
  - From: Raymond Sturge u

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