Trombone=Anarchic Press?

Browse through the images in the Trombone History Timeline and you will see that the trombone has had an exceptionally varied symbolism throughout its long history, representing concepts like religion, military, orchestral excess, and musical humor, although anarchic press is one that was new to me. Found this recently and added it to the 19th century timeline (2nd half).

c. 1886—New York: A political cartoon published by Puck magazine targeting the labor movement includes a depiction of an orchestra benefit concert that includes a trombone (which represents the “anarchist press,” as labeled on the instrument). See below image; public domain.

Trombone in Russian Orchestra

Added the following to the Trombone History Timeline (19th Century—first half):

c. 1850—Russia: Symphony Concert in Russia, a lithograph by R. Babajev, includes a depiction of a trombonist performing in an orchestra. A violinist conducts the group with his bow (see facing image; public domain) (Schwab 80).

Quirky Images: Trombone and Worms

It’s not what you think. Jules Worms was a French artist who lived from 1832 to 1914. Both of the below images by him were recently added to the 19th century timeline (2nd half), and both are a bit quirky:

1860—Paris, France: Jules Worms depicts a somewhat villainous-looking trombonist in Le cabaret du Lapin-Blanc, an art work published in the periodical L’Illustration (see above image; public domain) (Vol. 36, 1860, p. 403).

1877—Paris, France: Artist Jules Worms depicts an ensemble of musicians with animal heads for the cover the piano score of La Lutte Artistique (“The Artistic Struggle”), a quadrille by E. Marie. The trombonist has what appears to be the head of a rooster. The conductor, of course, is represented by a monkey (see above image; public domain) (source: Library of Congress).

Correction: Swiss Rehearsal, not German

Alert reader Chuck Wilson noticed that the flag in the below image did not seem to match the Black Forest region, which I mentioned as the probable setting in an earlier post and in the 19th century timeline (2nd half). Rather, based on the flag, the rehearsal is probably set in Switzerland. Either way, trombonists seem to follow the same behavioral patterns! Thanks, Chuck!

Schloesser, Une Repetition General

Head of a Dragon, Body of a Trombone

Added another image to the 19th century timeline. This one, a print from France’s L’Illustration, features a buccin, or trombone with a bell in the shape of a dragon head (see 1873, below). The instrument apparently saw its creation and heyday in the 19th century (1st half, 2nd half), fizzling out in the 20th century. Kind of a Romantic-era concept. I personally think it would be a real eye-catcher in a marching band. I’ve included all of the other timeline references to the buccin in the listing below, along with the new picture that was posted. Update: I’ve also added, at the very end of this post, an interesting modern performance on a buccin.

The Buccin in Trombone History (References from Trombone Timeline)—

c. 1840—Paris, France: A “buccin trombone” with a dragon-head bell is manufactured. The instrument is now held in the Edinburgh University Collection (Bevan 46).

1843—France: A depiction of a theatre orchestra includes a prominently-positioned dragon-bell trombone (buccin). The image is printed in “La Parodie de la Vestale,” Chants et Chansons Populaires de la France II, 1843 (see below image; public domain) (London, British Library; Remnant, Musical Instruments of the West 216).

1843—Madrid, Spain: A dragon-bell trombone (buccin) is made by manufacturer José Ramis (Heyde, Metropolitan).

1873—Paris, France: Christmas Eve in a Spanish Church, a print after Miranda appearing in the Paris illustrated newpaper, L’Illustration, features a buccin, or trombone with a bell in the shape of a dragon’s head (see below image; public domain) (L’Illustration, January 4, 1873, pp. 10-11).

1942—Photograph, held in Köln, Germany, of “virtuoso” Paul Kaiser-Reka, playing a “buccin” valve trombone with a dragon-head bell (Kölnisches Stadtmuseum 302).

Below is an interesting video clip of a modern buccin performance. Enjoy!

Trombone Images from 19th Century London Newspapers

I have recently added quite a few trombone images to the 19th century timeline (1st half, 2nd half). Many of them originate from London. Collected below are all the pictures from the 19th century timeline that come from London. As it turns out, they are all from newspapers. Several are humorous in nature. A couple of them focus on waits, by then an old-fashioned ensemble tradition. As a group, the images provide an interesting glimpse into the way trombone was viewed in Romantic-era London.

1846—London, England: An image printed in the London Daily News depicts a “monster concert” staged by Louis Antoine Jullien at Covent Garden. The performing forces, comprised of Jullien’s orchestra and 4 military bands, include at least 7 trombones: 4 at the top of the first section, and 3 on the third row of the steeper risers (see below image; public domain) (Remnant, Musical Instruments of the West 218).

1853—London, England: H.G. Hine’s The Waits at Seven Dials portrays a group of “Christmas waits” or street musicians, including a trombonist. After the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835, there were no more official waits as funded by British municipalities, but ad hoc musicians would often form at Christmas time in hopes of raising money (see below image; public domain) (Illustrated London News, December 1853).

1858—London, England: An illustration of the band of the French National Guard published in London’s Illustrated Times includes trombone (see below image; public domain).

1872—London, England: A humorous depiction of an ensemble titled German Band is published in The Graphic, an illustrated weekly newspaper (see below image; public domain).

1896—London, England: The Illustrated London News publishes a print by A. Forester called Rival Waits, featuring a trombonist with aggressive technique (see below image; public domain) (Illustrated London News, Dec 19, 1896).

Trombone History Image: A Rehearsal

Added another image to the 19th century timeline (2nd half). What is it about trombonists?

c. 1870—Carl Bernhard Schloesser’s Une Repetition General depicts a lively band rehearsal, probably in the Black Forest region. A mixture of young and old players are represented, the trombonist taking a break to refresh himself (see above lithograph by Thielly after Schloesser; public domain).

Update: Alert reader Chuck Wilson points out that the flags shown in the image do not match the Black Forest region of Germany; rather, the painting is probably set in the Swiss canton of Neuchatel.

Trombone Image: 19th Century Parisian Orchestra

Added the following image and entry to the 19th Century Trombone History Timeline (2nd half):
XIR63425c. 1883—Paris, France: Jean Beraud’s painting, The Box by the Stalls, offers a view, through a patron’s box seat, of a Parisian orchestra. Included is a clear depiction of a trombone (see facing image; public domain).