Andre Lafosse

André Lafosse was a professional trombonist and professor at the Paris Conservatoire in the early 20th century.

Lafosse was Professor of Trombone at the Paris Conservatoire from 1948 to 1960, where he took over from Henri Couillaud.

He wrote a book entitled "Méthode complète pour le trombone" in three volumes published in 1921 (first two volumes) and 1946 (third volume). In it he famously describes the practise of playing with vibrato as "vulgar" and glissandos of "questionable taste". It should be also be apparent that the French trombones of the period could not play the fifth partial D in tune in the closed slide position (1st) so 4th position is used more frequently. There is are just three pages of an appendix to cover the bass trombone.

In the 1920s and '30s he recorded in orchestras with Stravinsky. It has been suggested that he was the soloist in Stravinsky's own 1928 Paris recording of Pulcinella where the trombonist omits the written glissandos - instead playing the notes staccato. The Octet for winds recorded in the same period features trombonists André Lafosse and Raphaël Delbos.

References

Herbert, Trevor: The Trombone, Yale University Press, 2006. ISBN 0-300-10095-7