Will Kimball · Trombone

Five centuries of the trombone.

The history, research, and performance of the trombone — the timeline, writings, and playing of Will Kimball, Professor of Trombone at Brigham Young University.

Explore the Timeline About Will
Will Kimball, arms folded, on a bridge with his trombone
700+ pages of history
500+ primary sources
1,100+ historical images
600+ embedded recordings

The Timeline

Seven hundred pages of trombone history, decade by decade. Begin in any century.

Woodcut view of Florence, 1493 15th Century The trombone emerges Musical Scene by Lodewyk Toeput, c. 1590 — trombones among mixed consort 16th Century Courts and cathedrals Christof Angermair ivory carving with trombonist, 1618-1624 17th Century The golden age Gilded cherub with trombone, Bamberg, 1751 18th Century Oratorio and opera French lithograph with rear-facing trombone, c. 1828 19th Century Into the orchestra The Coldstream Guards band by Harry Payne, c. 1905 20th Century The modern voice

The Collections

Whole wings of research beyond the timeline itself.

Alto Trombone History, repertoire, and technique of the trombone's highest voice. Iconography Trombonists in paint, fresco, and print across five centuries. Early Trombone Literature Music written for the trombone before 1800 — with recordings. Brass Timeline The wider brass family, from the 13th century onward.

Hear it played

George Gershwin, Three Preludes
arranged and performed by Will Kimball

Recordings of solo and chamber works — Will's own performances of music from the timeline and beyond, many on period instruments.

All recordings
19th-century lithograph of a standing trombonist playing in the open air Breathing Breathing exercises and respiratory training for wind players. The BYU trombone choir on stage after a recital, trombones in hand BYU Trombone Studio Auditions, ensembles, and resources for Will's students.

From the blog

All posts
July 14, 2026 Trombone in 17th Century Italian Convent I just added the below caption to the Trombone History Timeline (17th century, 1601-1625). 1617—Siena, Italy: An account of the consecration ceremony at the... June 23, 2026 Trombonist Playing from Balcony in Verona I added the below caption and images to the Trombone History Timeline (16th century). Kind of interesting how many images there are from Verona of trombonists... June 19, 2026 Trombone with Organ in 16th Century Italy I added the below captions with trombone-related material from Arnaldo Morelli’s “The Role of the Organ in Performance Practices of Italian Sacred Polyphony d... June 13, 2026 Return of the Prodigal Son, with Trombone I just added this image and caption to the Trombone History Timeline (17th century, 1626-1650). 1631—Siena, Italy: After this date, Astolfo Petrazzi paints ... June 9, 2026 Angel-trombonist in Piacenza, Italy I just added the below caption and picture to the Trombone History Timeline (16th century). The grip on the trombone is improbable, and the bell flare is high... June 9, 2026 Trombone in Bolognese Convent I just added the below image and caption to the Trombone History Timeline (17th century, 2nd half). This is the same convent where nuns played trombone during... March 8, 2024 Paris Conservatory Trombones I just added this photo and caption to the Trombone History Timeline (20th century). 1929-30—A photo of the trombone class at Paris Conservatory, 1929-30, f... March 8, 2024 Painting of Buccins in 19th Century Church I just added this painting and caption to the Trombone History Timeline (19th century, 2nd half). The use of plainchant, played on buccins and trombones, in t... January 9, 2024 Angel-trombonist plays from balcony near Venice I’ve just added this image and caption to the Trombone History Timeline, 18th century. It’s particularly interesting because it’s a little late for trombone a... December 7, 2023 Polish Village Musicians, 1875-1880 I recently added the below set of images by Polish artist Franciszek Streitt to the Trombone History Timeline (19th century, 2nd half). The colorful picture t... November 13, 2023 2 Timeline Updates from Poland I just added 2 images and their captions to the Trombone History Timeline (17th century, 1626-1650 and 19th century, 1801-1825). Both are from Poland. 164... November 1, 2023 The Low Countries, Muses, and a Trombone in the Dirt I just added the below image and caption to the Trombone History Timeline, 17th Century (1601-1625) and to the blog post, Pick That Thing Up and Play! c.... October 31, 2023 Update: Trombone on Harpsichord Lid I updated my previous black and white image with the detail and full image shown below. See Trombone History Timeline, 17th century (1626-1650). Special thank... October 26, 2023 Another Rear-Facing Trombone from 19C France I just added the below image and caption to the Trombone History Timeline (19th century: 1826-1850) and to the collection of rear-facing trombone images, Bac... October 10, 2023 Elegant Woman Trombonist from 16th-17th Century I just added this beautiful picture to my collection of iconography. You can find it in historical context in the Trombone History Timeline (16th century). 1... October 5, 2023 Out in the Cold I added the image and caption below to the Trombone History Timeline (19th century, 2nd half). Enjoy! 1883—Royal Waits Outside Marlborough House (London r... September 14, 2023 Happy Birthday Trombone Postcard I just added this image and caption to the Trombone History Timeline (20th century). 1914—Germany: A happy birthday postcard printed in Germany features a c... September 12, 2023 Trombone with Muses I just added this caption and image to the Trombone History Timeline (17th century, 2nd half). 1676—Basel, Switzerland: A painting by an unknown artist on t... August 7, 2023 16th Century St. Cecilia Painting with Angel Trombonist I just added the below image and caption to the Trombone History Timeline (16th century). c. 1575—A portrait of St. Cecilia playing organ, accompanied by mu... July 17, 2023 Alto Trombone in Trade Catalogs, 1901-1940: 26 Examples from 9 Countries 1901—Chicago, Illinois: Lyon & Healy, a prominent American manufacturer and distributor of musical instruments, includes numerous alto trombones, all specifical... July 2, 2023 Trombone in 18C Austrian Trophy I added the below caption and image to the Trombone History Timeline (18th century). Austria is one of the most important locations for trombone in the 18th c... June 30, 2023 17C Trombone Drawing I added the below image and caption to the Trombone History Timeline (17th century, 1601-1625). c. 1616—Brussels, Belgium: An artist from the studio of Sall... June 29, 2023 Trombone in Early German Romantic Image I added the below image and caption to the Trombone History Timeline (19th century, 1801-1825). 1803—Germany: Der Abend, by Philipp Otto Runge, features c... June 29, 2023 Pair of 19C Drawings from Punch I just added the 2 drawings and captions below to the Trombone History Timeline (19th century, 1826-1850). I also added them to Serpent & Ophicleide Images: ...

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