I mentioned a catchpenny print in an earlier post, although I didn’t explain the term. Historically, a catchpenny print is an inexpensively-produced image intended for the masses. A number of them contained military characters, including military musicians. Here is another catchpenny…
military iconography
Dutch Trombonist on Horseback
Added the below image (just the detail) and its caption to the 19th century timeline (first half). I will also be adding it to the HubPages article, Backward Advances: Rear-Facing Trombones Throughout History, which already has some 36 visual examples….
Rear-Facing Italian Trombone
Here’s a rear-facing trombone from Italy that I just added to the 19th-century timeline (1st half) and will shortly be adding to the HubPages article, Backward Advances: Rear-Facing Trombones throughout History. If visual depictions are any indication at all, rear-facing…
Awkwardly-Rendered Rear-Facing Trombone
I added the below entry and picture to the 19th century timeline (1st half) and to the HubPages article, Backward Advances: Rear-Facing Trombones throughout History. Although rear-facing trombones were common during the 19th century (see the many examples in the…
Paper Serpents
As I mentioned in an earlier post on paper trombonists, an interesting little subset of music history images exists in the form of contemporary 19th-century military figurines. These figurines include military musicians, and, more specifically, serpent players. Although a number…
Paper Trombonists
The popular term paper tiger, indicating something that initially seems threatening but is in reality harmless, does not seem fitting for the trombone in general. If anything, the trombone is musically quite the reverse! There is, however, an interesting collection…
Trombone History: A Soldier I Will Be, Part 2
I’m told that more and more musicians in the job market are turning toward military bands as symphony orchestras struggle in the current financial climate. Interestingly enough, the history of the trombone in military bands actually goes back farther than…
Trombone History: Headed Both Ways
Added the below image and entry to the 19th Century Trombone History Timeline (first half). It is noteworthy because it appears to show both rear-facing and traditional trombones playing in the same ensemble. It also represents yet another rear-facing trombone…
Serpent & Ophicleide: History and Images
I recently came across two humorous ophicleide images from 19th century France (1847 and 1862, below) while doing some trombone history research. The ophicleide, by the way, is a fellow low brass instrument—a 19th century invention that is considered a…
2 French Rear-facing Trombones
Added the following 2 entries to the Trombone History Timeline: 19th century (first half). Iconography seems to suggest that the rear-facing trombone was quite common in the early 19th century. It’s noteworthy, also, that they’re both depictions of dances (see…