Mood Indigo
Duke Ellington and His OrchestraLow-register brass writing shows how trombones create shade and depth.
TINSTRUMENT · KNOWLEDGE GUIDE
Trombone
Its slide creates continuous pitch motion and a broad, physical tone.
- Instrument family
- Brass
- Origin
- Europe, fifteenth century
- Related genres
- 3
ORIGIN
Where does it come from?
The slide changes tube length directly and can move continuously between pitches; the modern trombone developed from the Renaissance sackbut.
ROLE IN ARRANGEMENT
What does it do in an arrangement?
It anchors the middle and low brass range while also delivering glissandi, accents and solos.
GlissandoMutesBrass accents
COMMON USES
Where will you hear it?
It supplies middle and low brass harmony, accents, glissandi and jazz solos.
LISTENING EXAMPLES
Recordings and repertoire to recognize
COMMON GENRES
Common in these genres
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