The cimbasso (its name derived from 'corno basso' contra-basso pitched in CC) in its original form had a bell pointed upwards like the wider-bored tuba, the FF, EE and BB basses. Verdi disliked the wide-bore "damned Bombardoni Austriche!", not only because of the hoarse, broad tone, but also because of the Austrian origin of those wide-bore 'Bombardone-tubas'. This attitude was inspired by the hated Austrian occupation of northern Italy in the years before the Risorgimento. These instruments were, however, well appreciated in the military brass and reed bands, playing the bass role of the string basses.