When the Trombones Wept: Beethoven's Drei Equal

Did you know Beethoven wrote a piece just for trombones? It’s called Drei Equali , three solemn, beautifully harmonized works for trombone ensemble, composed in 1812. Equali means 'equal' in Italian, referring to the balanced voices moving together in harmony. Beethoven wrote these for All Souls’ Day in Linz, Austria, and their dignified, almost choral like sound made them stand out." But what makes this piece so special? For one, it’s one of Beethoven’s rare compositions for brass alone, he didn’t write much for trombones, making this a unique work in his catalog. Interestingly, Drei Equali has a vocal quality, almost like a choral motet, but played entirely by brass. The harmonies are rich and flowing, reminiscent of Renaissance choral music.

The Equali genre itself was often associated with funerals in Austria and Germany. While Beethoven originally wrote this for a different occasion, fate had other plans. When Beethoven passed away in 1827, his Drei Equali played a moving role in his funeral. The procession was accompanied by four trombone players and 16 male singers performing two of the Equali. Ignaz von Seyfried, Kapellmeister at the Theater an der Wien, adapted the first and third movements to the text of the Miserere (Psalm 51, verses 1 and 2) especially for the occasion. The solemn tones of the trombones and choir filled the streets of Vienna as the procession made its way through the crowds, estimates range between 10,000 and 30,000 people. It was a farewell fit for a musical giant.

But Beethoven’s connection to trombones didn’t stop there. Music historian Trevor Herbert notes that Beethoven was 'clearly interested in the trombone,' not just for its solemnity but for its orchestral potential. Beethoven was one of the first composers to use trombones in his non-programmatic orchestral music ( Beethoven's 5th Symphony marks the first time trombones were used in a symphony) paving the way for the next generations of (Romantic) composers and how they treated the trombone in the orchestra, and the revival of the instrument in the course of the nineteenth century. The strength of Beethoven’s orchestral scoring for trombones lay in his ability to blend the instruments into orchestral textures. In many ways, this writing is remarkable for its time precisely because the trombones generally signify no programmatic meaning in their own right The "Drei Equali" are considered an important part of the trombone repertoire, and are some of the most famous works for trombone quartets. So whether in his orchestral works or at his own funeral, Beethoven gave the trombone a voice that was both powerful and refined. And Drei Equali remains a stunning example of its solemn beauty.