A long time ago, in a galaxy far away (courtesy: YSB)
There is a link between Christian theology and playing the trombone. At least, I discovered this last week when I tried to explain the concept of Christian contemplation to a group of students while holding a toy trombone. That was my fault. I should have brought my real trombone.
I had been invited to lead a seminar on Christian spirituality for a mixed group of students organised by the Thomas More foundation. But, as I did not know the audience, I brought some artefacts symbolising my life as a Dominican friar to get the conversation going. I planned that the audience could pick up an object, and I would say something about that object in relation to my Dominican life.
On the table, I had laid out a breviary, a rosary, a statue of Thomas Aquinas, a bottle of holy water and a mini trombone. The latter was a last-minute decision. Frankly, that afternoon I had panicked about whether I needed more variety among my materials, so I grabbed what was on my desk in front of me. Then, on my way out, I prayed for some Divine inspiration.
They picked the trombone.
I had to improvise.
Of course, I have a history with the trombone. I have been playing the trombone since I was a teenager. Before I joined the order, I played in various orchestras and a fantastic band. Even now, I tend to pick up my trombone now and then to keep my technique going, although I have yet to find a new group to play together. I know I should.
But trombones and theology?
While improvising, I started talking and discovered many possible links to the idea that there is a connection between Christian theology and spirituality and playing the trombone. On the train back to Rotterdam, I quickly made some notes for further research. I have now decided to turn these notes into a series of blogs on this website. These blogs will be dispersed among others, so don’t worry that you will get a trombone overload.
A sneak preview of some connections
Among musicians, it is well known that trombones have been used in classical music to signal the sacred. As one website put it: God is in the trombone. Another author went as far as to say that God plays the trombone. I can live with that idea.
Many years ago, the late Adriaan Jaeggi (1963-2008) published a little book about his love for the instrument (Tromboneliefde). The opening lines betrayed a pseudo-theological vision of the love of musicians and their trombones.
“Just as there are always two paths you can take, the easy one that leads to perdition and the difficult one that will bring you to paradise, there are also two kinds of love you can choose between…”
Theologians have also used the imagery of trombones as God’s instruments in their sermons. For example, in 1927, the writer and civil rights activist James Weldon Johnson published a book called: “God’s Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse.” This title seems to combine two passions: preaching and playing the trombone.
And finally, artists have known for a long time that angels play the trombone.
So this must be a picture of heaven…
The Young Stage Band in 2011 (Pictures © Ramon Mangold)