A History of the Trombone

A History of the Trombone the first title in Scarecrow's new American Wind Band Series, is a comprehensive account of the development of the trombone: from its initial form as a fourteenth-century Medieval trumpet, to its alterations in the fifteenth century, to its marginalized use in Renaissance ensembles, to its acceptance in various kinds of artistic and popular music in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. David M. Guion accesses new and important primary source materials to present the full sweep of the instrument's history, placing particular emphasis on the musicians and music, and their relevant cultural contexts.

After a general overview, Guion divides the material into two main sections. The first traces the development of the trombone and examines the literature written about it. The second investigates the performance history of the instrument---the ensembles it participated in; the occasions it took part in; the musicians who played it; and the social, intellectual, political, economic, and technological forces that affected that history. Finally, Guion analyzes the trombone's place in different musical styles, such as art, opera, popular, and world music. An appendix of transcriptions and translations of selected primary source documents, as well as a comprehensive bibliography, round out this important reference. Illustrated with more than seventy images, A History of the Trombone will appeal not just to trombonists but to students, scholars, and fans of all musical instruments.