A deep-toned reed instrument of the shawm family, used in Renaissance and medieval music, characterized by a loud, buzzing sound.
From Italian 'bombardo', derived from the same root as 'bombard' (cannon), named for its loud, booming tone that resembled the sound of artillery.
Musicians named this instrument after the sound of cannons—'bombardo' was literally what a medieval band called their loudest, most aggressive instrument because it 'bombed' your eardrums!
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