Trombone, Pierre Colbert, 1593
In former times the trombone was used for music in the church, in processions and in small settings. With its mellow sound, this instrument was especially used as a bass to support higher woodwinds, such as the two cornettos shown here on the same shelf. As with bowed instruments and the human voice, the trombone can produce a true glissando (sliding from one pitch to another).