Trumpets and a Trombone: Details from the Setúbal Altarpiece, 1520-1530 AD

The human voice, and vocal polyphony, occupied the privileged position in musical compositions for church or court, for most of the Medieval period, but by the late 14th century interest was rising in composing for instruments. The details from the Assumption of the Virgin shows a slide trombone, a simple trumpet and two other trumpets.