sacabuche

musical instrument

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

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The sackbut was an early form of the trombone, invented in the 15th century, likely in Burgundy. Its name comes from the Old French saqueboute, meaning "pull-push," referencing its telescoping slide mechanism, which is still used in modern trombones.12

Compared to the modern trombone, the sackbut had thicker walls and a narrower bell, which produced a softer tone. It was developed to meet the demand for a lower-pitched brass instrument that composers of the era required.1

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wind instrument
Trumpet-type aerophones
…the 14th century, the term sacabuche (Spanish: “drawpipe,” or “pull push”) was used to refer to a lip-vibrated instrument, presumably with a single telescoping slide. Fifteenth-century Flemish paintings depict what appear to be slide trumpets, in which the player slid the entire instrument up and down along the long shank…
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…the 14th century, the term sacabuche (Spanish: “drawpipe,” or “pull push”) was used to refer to a lip-vibrated instrument, presumably with a single telescoping slide. Fifteenth-century Flemish paintings depict what appear to be slide trumpets, in which the player slid the entire instrument up and down along the long shank…
Read More