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…
serpent iconography
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…
Fan of the Ophicleide? 66 Ophicleide and Serpent Images
Are you a fan of the ophicleide? Some months ago I posted a collection of ophicleide images I had happened across while doing trombone research. Never one to leave well enough alone, I have expanded the post considerably since then,…
One Man Bands
Over the weekend I posted a just-for-fun article on HubPages—One Man Bands: The Ultimate Multi-Taskers. There isn’t a lot that’s trombone-related, although a couple of the images include low brass, both predecessors to the tuba: one picture with an ophicleide…
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…
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…
New Timeline Image: Trombone and Serpent Together
Added the following somewhat unusual depiction of a trombone player and serpent player together to the 17th century timeline (first half). The crossed legs, as in the images in this earlier post, would have never made it past my grade…