André Lafosse (1890–1975) was a professional

trombonist The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate ...

and professor at the

Conservatoire de Paris The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...

in the early 20th century.

Life

Lafosse was Professor of Trombone at the Conservatoire de Paris from 1948 to 1960, where he took over from

Henri Couillaud Henri Couillaud (9 December 1878 in Bourg-la-Reine – February 1955) was a French classical trombonist. He was a soloist for the Opéra de Paris, the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire and the French Republican Guard Band ...

. He was also the brother of Marcel LaFosse (1895–1969) who played second trumpet with the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1928 until the mid-1950s. He wrote a book entitled ''Méthode complète pour le trombone'' in three volumes published in 1921 (first two volumes) and 1946 (third volume). In it he famously describes the practise of playing with vibrato as ''vulgar'' and glissandos of ''questionable taste''. It also should be apparent that the French trombones of the period could not play the fifth partial D in tune in the closed slide position (1st) so 4th position is used more frequently. There are just three pages of an appendix to cover the bass trombone. He also composed a piece for brass quintet with drums, entitled "Suite Brève". The Suite Brève is available on indésens Records (France) on physical CD (2008) as well as downloading o

In the 1920s and 1930s he recorded in orchestras with Stravinsky. It has been suggested that he was the soloist in Stravinsky's own 1928 Paris recording of ''

Pulcinella Pulcinella (; nap, Pulecenella) is a classical character that originated in of the 17th century and became a stock character in Neapolitan puppetry. Pulcinella's versatility in status and attitude has captivated audiences worldwide and kept t ...

'' where the trombonist omits the written glissandos – instead playing the notes staccato. Stravinsky's Octet for winds recorded in the same period features trombonists André Lafosse and a certain Raphaël Delbos.

References

Herbert, Trevor: The Trombone, Yale University Press, 2006.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lafosse, Andre 1890 births 1975 deaths People from Marly-le-Roi French classical trombonists Male trombonists Conservatoire de Paris alumni Academic staff of the Conservatoire de Paris 20th-century classical musicians 20th-century French musicians 20th-century classical trombonists 20th-century French male musicians