Before I headed of to New Zealand I performed as the Bass Trombonist in Callander Brass at their first concert. For such a new band containing a number of players who had only recently picked up instruments we made a good noise. Watch the video below of our opening number, Southdown.
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I don’t consider myself to be a very good trombone player, so when an old music teacher from high school started up a beginner’s band I was more than qualified. This all happened before I went to Africa and when I got back it had turned into a more organised affair even with it’s own name (Callander Brass), logo and website. Having applied to a number of organisations for funding we have music to play and many “new” instruments to play it on. Which brings me to how I came to have a bass trombone in my bathtub this morning.
Before I explain why I had it in the bath I’ll explain why I have it. My trombone is a King 3B Tenor trombone but in the band I’m normally either 3rd or bass trombone so with my instrument I can’t reach some of the lower notes. To solve this problem they spent some of the band funds on a Boosey & Hawkes Imperial (from eBay), what was in its day a professional line of instruments made in England.
As of Monday and the Callander Amateur Operatic Society rehearsal (I need to say no more often!) I’ve had this new toy sitting on a stand in my room. They’re fundamentally the same instrument but with some changes. To get lower notes there’s an extra length of tubing at the top and a valve that controls whether or not the air goes through it or bypasses it and is then essentially a tenor trombone. This bit called the F attachment is the biggest thing I’ve got to get used to because when you pull the trigger strange things happen e.g. you can get c in first position and there are only 6 slide positions instead of the usual 7 (and their all in new places).
Oh I nearly forgot, I had it in the bath as that’s the best way to wash the gunk out of it.