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Howard Knapp
Trombonist

727-643-0266

Rare Historic Trombone Recordings Discovered

I am fortunate to have come across two rare 78rpm recordings of the Boston Symphony Orchestra Trombones recorded in 1906 on the RCA Victor Label. The first side is the Kerry Dance by Molloy and the second side is Nearer My God to Thee. In researching who the players were on the recordings I contacted Doug Yeo, bass trombonist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Yeo was extremely helpful as well as excited about these recordings as they have turned out to be possibly the earliest known recordings of any member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Yeo was instrumental (no pun intended) in getting this news publicized on WGBH radio, Boston, and printed in the Boston Globe. Mr. Yeo also has put an extensive article on his website in regards to this find. You can read his in depth information at http://yeodoug.com/articles/1906/1906.html .

I am very grateful to Doug Yeo for all he has done to bring these recordings to public knowledge, and for assisting me in donating them to the Archives of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

I have recorded the 78’s from my 1910 Victrola (how they would have sounded in 1906) and put them on Mp3 below for listening pleasure. Enjoy !

Boston Symphony Orchestra Trombones 1906 (Kerry Dance) Mp3 (Played on the 1914 Victrola Below)

Boston Symphony Orchestra Trombones 1906 (Nearer My God To Thee) (Played on the 1914 Victrola Below)

O Vos Omnes (my arrangement recorded by my quartet in college)

Victor Brass Quartet (Farewell to the Forrest, Arthur Pryor Trombone)

A little about myself….

I began playing trombone at age twelve while in the 5^th grade. My school had a very good instrumental music program under the direction of Mr. Bob Coburn. I attended Disston Junior High School and began trombone lessons with Mr. Otto Blankle (Army Field Band trombone soloist, retired). In High School I studied with Mr. Frank Knight (also my High School Band director) a student himself of Dr. Bill Cramer, FSU. In High School I was a member of the All-County Band, Youth Symphony and St. Petersburg Trombone Ensemble. I attended Florida State University and studied trombone with Dr. Cramer for one year then transferred to the University of South Florida and studied with Prof. Don Kneeburg (he studied under Tom Beversdorf at Indiana). I was a middle school band director for six years and now play freelance in the Tampa Bay area.

I began playing on a 1927 York trombone with rose brass bell. In high school I played on a King 3B and a Conn 88H, and played them through college. I now play on a Conn 88HO ; a Shires .525 bore with gold brass bell; and a Yamaha YSL-651 (.500); a 1932 King Orchestra Model ‘New Proportion’ (dual bore .481/.500) And yes, I still have the old York !!

I am in a newly organized trombone quartet, still looking for a name, comprised of myself, Dr. David Manson (trombone professor at St. Pete College); Mr. David Tatro (Tampa Bay Symphony, FSU graduate and studied with John Drew); and Mr. Dan Noyes (Bass trombonist Tampa Bay Symphony).

I play in the Sunshine City Band, which was formed in 1893 and has played continuously since. Concerts are each Sunday at William’s Park in downtown St. Petersburg. Interestingly, I play alongside my first trombone instructor, Otto Blankle.