1586—Italy

Philippo Oriolo da Bassano’s poem, Monte Parnaso, mentions trombone players (tromboni) playing along with other wind players (bagpipes, cornetts, and pifferi) at a ball. Bassano specifically praises the playing of a trombonist by the name of “Zacaria”: “There was a proud and noble chorus Of players so upright and perfect That near them David would appear base….Still others were playing in company with them On such pipes [piferri] and trombones [tromboni] So that such harmony was never heard before. Of these there was a certain Zacaria Whose trombone send such sweet tones to heaven That they were enjoyed by the cherubim and by the thrones.” Bassano mentions 2 other trombone players by name, “Allovise” and “Tosi” (Slim, Musicians on Parnassus).