As I review arrangements from arrangers across the country I begin to see certain patterns in the arrangements.
One thing that I have noticed recently is the avoidance of arrangers to give the trombone anything faster than 8th notes.
As a trombone player I am here to clarify confusion for non-trombone players.
The trombone is actually quite good at playing fast passages. Consider your marches. Rolling Thunder, Barnum and Bailey’s Favorites, Quality Plus, In Storm & Sunshine and others. All of these have fast passages for trombone. Many of the composers of the well-known marches were trombone players themselves.
The narrow bore of the trombone makes it so that the trombone speaks clearly on fast staccato or marcato passages. Compare this to the baritone, mellophone, and horn that are not quite as clear on these types of passages. A fast staccato or marcato run in a march on a horn is a rarity.
Now, let me qualify my initial statement. The trombone is actually quite good at fast “staccato” and “marcato” passages.
The trombone however is not good at fast “legato” passages. In places where you want something fast without tonguing use a different instrument. This is because the nature of the trombone makes it so that the trombone must tongue to prevent continuous glissing. So parts where you want this effect have a party with the other brass instruments and woodwinds.
All of that being said stop holding back on your trombones. Put them on those runs as well. Push them and you will be pleased at what you get.
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D. Rashad Watters
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(919)-698-2560
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