The tone of the trombone is rich, lyric and ponderous. It can be nobly melodic but, due to problems connected with the shifting of the slide, the player can never be completely at ease in legato playing. The trombone staccato cannot be very biting, rapid or pointed. Music written for trombone should, therefore, have a certain epic breadth and dignifiedly moderate pace. When played softly the trombone can produce a mellow lyric quality; when played loudly it has a full-fledged power that is very stirring. It adds nobility and depth to the brass choir.
For illustrations of their general use, listen to the trombones in Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, and in the opening of The Russian Easter Overture by Rimsky-Korsakov.
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