Spit Valves

I recently had the opportunity to sing a concert with San Francisco Choral Artists and The Wholy Noyse. The Whole Noyse is a renaissance wind ensemble, and I enjoyed hearing them play recorders, shawms, kurtles, and sackbutts.

The Sackbutt, or trombone, that was played during the renaissance, is very similar to a modern trombone. Like modern trombones, it came in alto, tenor, bass and contra-bass versions. Pitches are changed by moving a slide. A few improvements have been made - like changing the inner tubing bore, the flair of the bell, and the location of the bell flare. Modern trombones sound brighter and louder, and are a solo or orchestral instrument; renaissance trombones were designed to accompany the very first musical instrument, the human voice.

One marked improvement in today's modern trombones is the spit valve. Sackbutt players must remove the slide to empty the 'water' from the instruments. Modern players simply push the valve open, and the water dribbles out onto the floor (perhaps the best reason never to eat anything that has fallen on the floor in a music room). The spit valve also allows players to perform longer passages without major discombobulation of their instruments and upset to other nearby players, conductors, and the audience.

So who invented this modern convenience? Certainly, such a noteable addition was hailed as a major improvement by players. Perhaps Mr. S. Valve was given the keys to a city, or heralded as the brass player's best friend in the latest broadside of 'Sackbutt Players' Monthly'.

Alas, history has lost the name of this great inventor. Like so many innovators, he (or she) was lost in the annuals of time, no doubt crowded out by the next new and exciting invention.

Take time today to raise your glass....full of water....to the spit valve inventor.