Chapter 1
The physics of the slide
Chapter 2
From sackbut to symphony
Chapter 3
The trombone's voice in the orchestra
Chapter 4
Beyond the classical stage
YOUR GOAL
Master of The brass beast with a slide
Ch 2 · From sackbut to symphony
maestro From Sackbut to Symphony
Push and slide, push and slide, Five hundred years of that brassy pride!
maestro This specialized forward-facing bass trombone features valves instead of a long slide
maestro A cartoon Beethoven bursts through a brick wall while holding a golden trombone.
Fun Fact
Sackbut name: The old English word 'sackbut' likely comes from French words meaning to pull and push.
Glossary
sackbut (noun)
A Renaissance and Baroque brass instrument with a slide, widely regarded as the early form of the trombone. Ludwig van Beethoven famously introduced its modern successor to the classical orchestra in 1808.
A Renaissance and Baroque brass instrument with a slide, widely regarded as the early form of the trombone. Ludwig van Beethoven famously introduced its modern successor to the classical orchestra in 1808.
Quiz
In what year did Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, featuring the orchestral debut of the trombone, premiere?
Quiz
Which famous American bandmaster featured trombone showmanship in his late 19th-century touring military bands?
Quiz
How did the physical design of the Renaissance sackbut differ from the modern trombone?
Quiz
Which Italian opera composer commissioned a custom low brass instrument called the Cimbasso?
Quiz
In which of his famous symphonies did Ludwig van Beethoven first introduce trombones to the mainstream classical orchestra?