during the Baroque certain instruments fell into disuse
while others rose in popularity. For example,
mainstays such as the recorder and cornetto families
declined while the oboe and bassoon became arguably the
most popular woodwind instruments of the era. The horn also
enjoyed popularity, while the trumpet entered into a
somewhat "golden age" of performance. More significantly, by
the late 17th century the violin family enjoyed such
through the overtone series until the
invention of the valve early in the 19th
century. So it is ironic that during the
Baroque period, when the trumpet and horn
enjoyed increasing favor, the trombone,
despite its flexibility, endured a period of
limited use. It enjoyed some prestige from
the "tower music" played in various German
municipalities as well as being a
component of some church music. It also
saw limited use in the opera pit. But it
would not find its way into the symphonic
repertoire until the dawn of the Romantic
period and Beethoven's Symphony No. 5.
A Baroque
oboe 3
acceptance as to be regarded as the foundation for the
Classical and Romantic orchestra, while the viol family, with
the exception of the string bass, passed into obscurity.