Trumpet

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The trumpet is a brass instrument of cylindrical bore played with a cup mouthpiece. Until you added valve mechanisms in the early 19th century, it sounded only the notes of the harmonic series. Because of this limitation, specialized typed of players arose who devoted themselves to the high, virtually chromatic so-called "clarino" register, or else to the lower range called the "principale" or "principal". The trumpet pitched in "F" is the one Bach wrote his trumpet parts for.
The trumpet is primarily used as a ceremonial instrument and is made to look so, with stylized ornament giving dignity to the single loop of brass or silver tubing.
John on the Trumpet
(Photos courtesy of Jonathan M. Askey at website The London Early Music Shop - see credits)

References:

Baines, Anthony. European & American Musical Instruments. Viking Press, New York, 1966.

Buchner, Dr. Alexander (translated by Iris Urwin). Musical Instruments Through the Ages. Batchworth Press Limited, London, England, 1961.

Haas, Karl. Inside Music: How to understand, listen to, and enjoy good music. Doubleday, New York, 1984. ISBN: 0-385-18536-7

Hindley, Geoffrey (ed.). The Larousse Encyclopedia of Music. Excalibur Books, New York, 1982.

Authors: The VirRen Team led by C.S.Marszalek & B.Panagakis

Created: 8 August 1996; Modified: 23 August 2004