The alto trombone as a transposing instrument

TL;DRAbstract

Coinciding with a concern for authenticity and balance in the orchestral brass section, and a renewed interest in 18th century solo trombone literature, the nearly forgotten alto trombone has enjoyed a rousing comeback in recent decades. The alto trombone has traditionally existed as a concert-pitch instrument likely due to its early use in church music as a means of doubling the voice. Standard notational practice for the modern E-Flat alto has changed little over the centuries. While performance practice in previous centuries is not verifiable, current alto trombonists are tenor trombonists first; the alto trombone is nearly always a secondary instrument. Trombonists typically make the transition from a tenor trombone pitched in B-Flat to an alto trombone pitched in E-Flat without the use of a notational transposition. This is contrary to the overwhelming trend for wind instruments. Generally, secondary wind instruments pitched in different keys are written at a transposition for (re

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