Sackbuts

The sackbut (saqueboute, posaune, busaun, sacabutxó, sackbut, trombone) is the direct predecessor of the modern slide trombone. Unlike the trombone, it has a slightly finer tubing and, above all, a narrower bell that opens gradually. These characteristics allow the sackbut to produce a much sweeter and more velvety sound than the modern trombone, making it essential for the performance of Renaissance sacred music. Additionally, it possesses great agility, which allows it to handle works by composers such as Castello, Gabrielli, or Marini perfectly.

A brass instrument that extends and retracts; it is played along with other instruments such as shawms, cornets, and recorders. Sebastián de Covarrubias, Tesoro de la lengua castellana o española, 1611.

The sackbut is an instrument that originated as a development of the bastard trumpet, or Spanish trumpet, which appeared in the second half of the 15th century. Unlike the bastard trumpet, the sackbut has a double-length tube with a U-shaped end that moves and allows the body of the instrument to be extended, achieving a greater number of harmonics. This allowed the sackbut to play both high and low registers, making it highly valued at the time, although great skill was required to achieve notes by changing the length of the tube. The bell was usually decorated with various motifs.

Since its appearance in the late 15th century, it played an important role alongside cornets, flutes, shawms, and bombardes, especially in the performance of dances. However, it was also widely used in ecclesiastical settings, along with other wind instruments, to support voices well into the 17th century.

Where there is no one to play the sackbut, the bass part is substituted by the dulcian; although it is more appropriate for shawms due to its clearer voice than the dulcian, and it blends more with the clarity of the sound with the high parts. Pablo Nasarre, Escuelas Músicas, 1723-24.