TromboneChat

Can anyone report from their own experience of playing the upper part of Lobgesang?

I have an alto and am playing it a lot right now so pretty comfortable with intonation etc.

In the next year we have Rheinisch coming up, this year Sinfonie Fantastique which I’m tending towards alto on but still a bit on the fence.

For Lobgesang, most video recordings I could find have the 1st part on (German) tenor. On the other hand I know the conductor will want the trombones pretty quiet, I can already visualize “The Händ”

I don't know what's historically correct, but I would most certainly play Lobgesang and Rhenish on alto and have done both in the last 2 years.

In the end it's more secure on alto, especially if you have to keep the volume down. And it simply sounds lighter and more transparent.

For Symphonie Fantastique I would probably play tenor.

It can sound very nice on alto but there's also a few moments that are a bit awkward. And all those unison soli, in my opinion, work best with three Bb instruments.

I played it on Alto. In unisons with an alto on top, I usually suggest that the Tenor player (2nd) take the lead and I try to fit within the sound of the other players. I just played a Mozart Mass a couple of weeks ago, and that approach worked well for that repertoire.

Jim Scott

Jim, good suggestion to have the second trombone take the lead on the unison passages in Lobgesang (and other similar pieces). I considered that as well, but in that specific setting and section preferred to keep the lead myself. I even thought about switching between alto and tenor.

Ok, thanks for the suggestions, especially like the idea of letting the 2nd player lead on unison parts, whether I up with alto or a small tenor.

I should say for context that my alto is a 36h which is a bit more towards a tenor sound than some other altos, and of course has the valve to help out in parts in the lower range.

I might try small tenor in Symphony Fantastique, at the risk of confusing myself by changing between alto clef reading on Eb and Bb instruments!

I generally feel that a larger alto like the 36h (I have a 35h and also a Kanstul which plays relatively large) are good solutions for these situations and can make blending easier. So you will certainly be doing great!

Also - as I just came across this again - as long as I cannot play it as wonderfully as Matthew Gee, I would never play Rhenish on tenor:
That's a fantastic clip!

Thanks, that clip is beautiful, something to aspire towards at least!