1771—Lititz, Pennsylvania

The Moravian settlement acquires its first trombones. Written records show that the Elder’s Conference had decided that the instruments be used in a very specific manner: “By all means they [i.e., the trombones] should be put to use, but not for general use. Rather, they will be used only on communion days, at funerals, and to announce a homegoing. Our beginning here depends only upon arranging it so that the Brethren who will play them are introduced to it in a liturgical way and will practice at regular times under constant supervision and direction, for which direction Brother Grube was proposed” (Carter, Trombone Ensembles of the Moravian).