Posted by Chris Hall on October 06, 2002 at 19:49:50:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Opera Parts posted by Mark Lloyd on October 04, 2002 at 16:33:51:
When it says "Trombone Basso", it means what we know as "Contrabass Trombone". Bass trombone these days is a LARGE bore trombone in Bb. Many of the "Contrabass trombone" parts in R. Strauss's writing are played on "regular" bass trombones these days without too much trouble. However, the Italians played on valved trombones in the day of Puccini (and Verdi), so a valved "contra bass trombone" is a cimbasso, by definition. Some of the tenor trombone licks in Turandot (for example), and many Verdi operas, are almost (if not completely) unplayable on a slide trombone.
My observations,
CJH