1741—Leipzig, Germany

Johann Heinrich Zedler writes, “Posaune…is used by the Stadtpfeifer on the towers, city hall corridors, in church music, and for other occasions. The deepest and largest is called an octave trombone [Octavposaune]; the second one, which goes somewhat higher, is the bass trombone [Quartposaune]; the third is the common trombone [gemeine Posaune]; the fourth is the alto trombone [Altposaune]…They are of differing sizes, according to the voice which they are supposed to serve. They have a sound more lovely than, if not as sharp, as the trumpet’s, and are used for church and table music” (Zedler, Grosses vollständiges Universal-Lexicon, as quoted in Guion, Trombone 48-49).