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Question: What is the ancestor of the modern trombone!?
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Up to the 18th century in French and English, the instrument was called a "sackbut!."

The most common trombones are the tenor and bass counterparts of the trumpet!. In its most familiar form the trombone is characterized by a telescopic slide with which the player varies the length of the tube -- hence the term "slide trombone!."

The instrument has always been called trombone in Italy, derived from words meaning "trumpet!." Other commonly used names for the early trombone appear to be a combination of two elements: sac (perhaps from the Spanish word sacar, a word with several different meanings, the most likely in this context being to "to draw" in the sense of pulling); and bu (meaning to thrust or push)!. These combined to become saquebote (French) and sackbut (English)!.

The early history of the trombone was misunderstood!. Many 19th-century antiquarians thought that it had origins in deep antiquity!. The source of the misconception was the appearance of the word "sackbut" in the Old Testament!. The translators of the Geneva Bible (1560) had encountered the word sambuca (meaning a type of harp) in a passage that clearly referred to musical instruments, and erroneously concluded that it described an instrument with which they were familiar in the 16th century!. Francis W!. Galpin correctly showed that the trombone, an instrument with a double, U-shaped slide, can be dated no earlier than the 15th century, though neither he nor any subsequent scholar has been able to establish exactly when and where it first appeared!.

The earliest detailed depiction of a trombone appears in Filippino Lippi's fresco, "The Assumption of the Virgin" (1488-93) in Rome!. Illustrations of 17th and 18th century trombone players show differences in the way that the instrument was held, but an engraving circa 1722 shows the player holding the instrument in a similar way to that used today!.

Early trombones were versatile: They were able to produce two distinct types of sound!. When these instruments are blown loudly, the sound is brassy and strident!. The abundant references to trombones being combined with trumpets for fanfares suggest that they were often heard in this mode!. Mersenne commented that this type of trombone playing was "deemed vicious and unsuitable for concerts!."

However, modern reproductions show that early trombones were easy to play quietly!. When played in this manner, they produced a restrained, suave, clearly focussed sound, capable of subtle articulation and inflection that even remains focussed in the lively acoustics of a church!. It is this mode of expression that was the most common in the 16th and 17th centuries!. The sound is well matched with that of the cornet: a partnership between the two instruments was established by the early part of the 16th century!. They were natural accompanists for choral music!.

The earliest recorded use of trombones in England does not occur until 1495!. In Spain, it was not until 1526 that trombonists were given regular employment at Seville Cathedral!. However, from the opening decades of the 16th century until the closing years of the 17th, the trombone was one of the most prominent professional instruments!.

In the late 16th century and the 17th it became more common for a group of trombones to be used in ensembles to produce a heterogeneous block of sonority!. It is probably from this type of sonority rather than from the sound of the single instrument that the symbolic association of trombones with death, the underworld and other dark features of the emotional spectrum derives!. It is certain that these associations were well understood by the start of the 17th century!.

http://www!.cnn!.com/interactive/career/01!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

lol he gave u a story anyways the trombone is based off the trumpetWww@QuestionHome@Com