The nineteenth century was a time of musical and cultural growth in the United States. Six of the major orchestras which exist today were established during this time. From the birth of the New York Philharmonic in 1842 through the founding of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1900, audiences that valued orchestral music provided an impetus for professional orchestral development.A comprehensive review of the events leading up to the establishment of the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, and Philadelphia Orchestras provides a basis for understanding the nature of professional orchestral trombone playing in the United States before 1900. It was found that orchestras were established in a common manner though growth was often retarded by social and economic factors. The Civil War, especially, was an event which momentarily hindered the growth of American symphony orchestras.Biographical data about the orchestral trombone players of the nineteenth century is very incomplete in the standard texts for American music history. A registry of orchestral trombonists in the United States during this period identifies 65 trombone players who were active in major symphony orchestras. An examination of the lives of some of the better-known orchestral trombonists shows that most of these musicians immigrated from Germany. The largest number of these musicians seem to have immigrated during a period from about 1870 to 1900. These capable musicians were leaders in the development of orchestras whose personal performance was reported to be of high quality. Especially influential was Frederick Lesch, a trombonist in the Theodore Thomas Orchestra and the New Philharmonic, who served as a principal player, bass trombonist, and soloist. His performance of Ferdinand David's Concertino for Trombone and orchestra is a landmark in the growth of orchestral trombone playing.A review of literature which includes a listing of all pieces performed by major orchestras during the nineteenth century establishes the repertoire of the orchestral trombonist of the period. Through analysis of this repertoire, the technical requirements for orchestral trombone playing are established. Technique, pitch range, and dynamic range were areas where the greatest demands were made upon the players. The orchestral trombonists of the nineteenth century were indeed pioneers who set the stage for today's orchestral trombone players.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/175392 |
| Date | 03 June 2011 |
| Creators | Callison, Hugh A. |
| Contributors | Hanson, Wesley L. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | x, 348 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
| Coverage | n-us--- |
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