Tromba Italian

The name Tromba was first used by Italian organ builders for Trumpet stops. In the 18th century German and English builders began using the name for a chorus reed whose tone was midway between that of the Trumpet and the Tuba: smoother, broader, and less brassy than the Trumpet, but not as powerful as the Tuba. It was favored by Harrison & Harrison for their Great divisions. The name has also been used for an 8' extension of a 16' pedal Trombone. Audsley claims that the name was also used by Spanish and Portuguese builders, but we know of no examples.

See also Pedal Tromba.

Examples

Osiris contains about 120 examples, six at 16' pitch, one at 4', one at 64', and the rest at 8'. At least sixteen are known to be 8' extensions of 16' pedal Trombones.

Tromba 8', Grand Organo (I); Chiesa di San Filippo, Firenze, Italy; Fabbri 1664. This is the earliest known example.

Tromba 8', Concert; Notre Dame de l'Assomption, Tende, France; Serassi 1807.

Tromba 4', Choir; Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Reuter 1955. Extension of 8' stop.

Tromba 64' (resultant), Pedal; Lorenzkirche, Nürnberg, Germany; Steinmeyer 1937.

Sound Clips

See the Sound Files appendix for general information.

Tromba 8', Great Kellogg Auditorium, Battle Creek, Michigan, USA Aeolian-Skinner, 1933 St. Anne

Bibliography

Adlung[1]: §202 Tromba. Audsley[1]: Tromba. Audsley[2]: I.XIII Tromba. Bonavia-Hunt[1]: Tromba. Irwin[1]: Tromba. Locher[1]: Tromba; Tuba. Maclean[1]: Tromba. Skinner[1]: XII Tromba. Sumner[1]: Tromba. Wedgwood[1]: Tromba.
 
Copyright © 1999 Edward L. Stauff, all rights reserved.
Tromba.html - Last updated 17 May 2008.
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