1582—Ferrara, Italy

A chronicler describes occasion in which Duke and Duchess of Ferrara go with approximately 100 of their entourage on a ceremonial barge to meet the Prince and Princess of Mantua, who were likewise traveling on a barge in the Po River: “Upon encountering the visitors, one fired an artillery salute from accompanying boats. Then the trumpets of the Duke on the bucintoro played a fanfare. When this was finished, there was music with trombones and cornetts until one arrived [at Ferrara].” According to historian Andrew Newcomb, “The implication is that, as the visitors’ boat drew closer, one progressed from less to more subtle noise—from artillery salute to trumpet fanfare to music, presumably polyphony, for cornetts and trombones” (Newcomb).