bombardon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

The bombardon is a specific historical type of bass/contrabass brass instrument and is considered a direct predecessor and member of the tuba family. In modern parlance, the term often refers to a specific size/pitch of tuba or an organ stop.

You are most likely to encounter it in historical texts about brass bands, in the specifications of large pipe organs (listed among the stops), or in detailed programme notes for 19th-century music.

Yes, though rarely. It can be used metaphorically to describe a voice, sound, or even a literary style that is exceptionally deep, heavy, and resonant, e.g., 'his bombardon of a voice filled the hall.'

Its meaning is hyper-specific to a technical field (music/organ building). The more common generic terms like 'tuba' or 'bass' have largely supplanted it in general usage, confining it to historical or specialist contexts.

A large, deep-toned brass instrument of the tuba family, or an organ stop of similar quality.

Bombardon is usually technical / specialist in register.

Bombardon: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɒmˈbɑːd(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɑːmˈbɑːrd(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.