0 History and Origin of Trombone

According Rabelais trombone already existed at the time of the Hebrews. The march toward the Promised Land, Joshua's army had to already have them and we can presume that this instrument had its share of glory in the collapse of the walls of Jericho. The trombone was part of the "tubae" of the Romans and is designated with the Latin name of "Buccina".

At that time it was a straight tube, or semicircular, (hence the generic name of "tubae") and the only similarities to the current trombone concerning registration and timbre. Only available as a sound fundamental laws of resonance, eight or nine engendered by this fundamental harmonies.

It was not until the late sixteenth century to see appear in a practical way, the instrument that would coulisse first trombone brass instrument equipped with a full tablature. The back and forth movement of the rod determined the name of the instrument, which is called "saquebute" (or "saqueboute"), old French verbs "saquer" (pull) and "Bouter" (push). Trials were numerous and spread through much time, as a ninth-century manuscript, which is in the Library of Bologna, mentions a fragment of an instrument resembling the shape of a couliesse.

The "saquebute" played in the role of medieval polyphony teneur (main body) and Guillaume Dufay (1400-1474) was one of the first to use them in his compositions, notably in the "Mass of the Armed Man". It was in use at the Court of England and ten trombones of Henry VIII (1509 - 1947) had reputation throughout Europe.

Undoubtedly, in the Court of France's time there was also interest in this, as in a letter of December 31, 1518, preserved in the National Library, referred to "saquebute performer" and "hautebois", the who were employed at a party held on December 22, 1558, by Francis I., in the courtyards of the Bastille.

In a miniature of a French manuscript of 1457, "Chronicles of Jean de Courcy", which also belongs to the National Library, you can distinguish serious performers trumpet shaped "saquebute". At the Hotel de Ville in Paris, can be seen in a mural a "saquebute" among musicians of the fifteenth century, representing the entry into Paris of Louis XI, on August 30, 1461.

Monteverdi, in a masterful page of his "Orpheus" (1567 -1643) wrote a trombone quintet underscoring the Orpheus's descent into hell. No doubt it is at this time that the "saquebute" took its modern name of trombone (from Italian tromba): "trumpet and trombone" (big horn).