Alto trombone

Quotes describing the timbres of the alto trombone, extracted from various orchestration treatises. The list of descriptors is adapted from Wallmark (2019).

"like a blend of horn, bassoon, and cello"

“Its tone is rich and horn-like, sounding like a blend of the horn, bassoon, and cello.” Blatter, 1997, p. 128

bright

"The soprano saxophone’s quality is somewhat akin to that of a high oboe or English horn, the alto’s ’rounder’ but bright; to some, the sound of the tenor instrument suggests an amalgam of bassoon, cello, and euphonium, while that of the bass saxophone is predictably darker and heavier in character." Kennan and Grantham, 2002, p. 342

even

Its tone is even, and it can rise easily, at the same time possessing good bass notes.” Widor, 1906, p. 126

hornlike

“Its tone is rich and horn-like, sounding like a blend of the horn, bassoon, and cello.” Blatter, 1997, p. 128

powerful

“It is powerful enough to be a match for 4 or 5 Clarinets.” Widor, 1906, p. 126

rich

“Its tone is rich and horn-like, sounding like a blend of the horn, bassoon, and cello.” Blatter, 1997, p. 128

round

"The soprano saxophone’s quality is somewhat akin to that of a high oboe or English horn, the alto’s ’rounder’ but bright; to some, the sound of the tenor instrument suggests an amalgam of bassoon, cello, and euphonium, while that of the bass saxophone is predictably darker and heavier in character." Kennan and Grantham, 2002_366 342