The early use of "cimbasso" referred to an upright serpent of a narrower bore than the ""basson russe"", usually made of wood with a brass bell. Later, this term was extended to a range of instruments including the ophicleide. In general, after the advent of the more conical bass tuba, the term "cimbasso" was used to refer to a more blending voice than the "basso tuba" or "bombardone", and began to imply the lowest trombone. Giuseppe Verdi, who at times specified a preference for the blending timbre of a low trombone over the heavier-sounding tuba, developed an instrument with the firm Pelitti, which was a contrabass trombone in BB wrapped in tuba form and configured with 4 rotary valves. In most of Verdi's operas the cimbasso used nowadays are the common types of the 'buccina' form: designed in the 1950s by Hans Kunitz, the mouthpipe and middle section are placed in front of the player, and the bell section is forward pointed, in a downward angle. This causes a very direct, concentrated sound to be projected towards conductor and audience.