“Equale. A piece for equal, i.e., similar voices or instruments, e.g. two sopranos or a violin quartet. In the 18th century the form was restricted to pieces of a solemn nature for a quartet of trombones to be played before, during or after a state funeral.” (New Groves)
After leaving Teplitz and returning to Vienna towards the end of September 1812, Beethoven went to Linz to interfere with his brother Johann’s sex life.
He also had occasion to write an unusual composition, as recollected by Franz Glöggl, later a Viennese music publisher:
Beethoven was on intimate terms of friendship with my father, kapellmeister of the cathedral in Linz, and when he was there in 1812, he was at our house every day and several times took meals with us. My father asked him for an Aequale for 6 trombones, as in his collection of old instruments he had a soprano and a quart [pitched a fourth lower than tenor] trombone, whereas only alto, tenor and bass trombones were commonly used. Beethoven wanted to hear an Aequale such as was played at funerals in Linz, and one afternoon when Beethoven was expected to dine with us, my father appointed three trombone players and had them play an Aequale as desired, after which Beethoven sat down and composed one for 6 trombones, which my father had his trombonists play… (Thayer-Forbes, p. 541)
And that’s how Beethoven’s “Three Equali for Four Trombones” (not six) came to be composed. It premiered on 2 November 1812.
#Beethoven250 Day 256
3 Equali for Four Trombones (WoO 30), 1812
At a Trombone Symposium, two alto trombones, a tenor and a bass.
#Beethoven250 Day 256
3 Equali for Four Trombones (WoO 30), 1812
Recently, some trombonists have done their own multi-tracked isolation videos. Here’s a teacher at San Diego Status University.
#Beethoven250 Day 256
3 Equali for Four Trombones (WoO 30), 1812
English trombonist Kris Garfitt combines multi-tracking with interesting visuals.
Fifteen years after their composition, the first and third of the Equali were played at Beethoven’s funeral, both in their original form and arranged for chorus.