The Cimbasso is a brass instrument in the trombone family, with a bright sound. It has three to five piston or rotary valves, a highly cylindrical bore, and is usually pitched in F. It is in the same range as a tuba or a contrabass trombone.

"Bent" cimbasso

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History

The cimbasso was first used in opera scores by Verdi. It's not certain whether an instrument by that name actually existed at the time; rather, "cimbasso" referred to a particular part, usually covered by valve trombone, ophicleide, or serpent. The modern instrument is generally played by a tubist, rather than by a trombonist.