Tenor or bass trombone? Villa-Lobos’ Choros No. 4 in light of the instrument’s traditions

Abstract

The present paper aims to present historical and technical aspects of the trombone, relating them to the tessitura of the instrument used by Heitor Villa-Lobos in his Choros No. 4 (1926) for brass quartet of three horns and one trombone. In this way, an exploration is attempted of the practical implications, in modern times, of the knowledge obtained through theoretical, organological and compositional approach.