Wednesday, August 19, 2009

The Evolution of the Trumpet

By Jim Samposzi

The trumpet, an instrument of the woodwind or brass group, is typically made out of brass or bronze and is comprised of: a mouthpiece, bell, a spit valve, and buttons. The trumpet is among the instruments that are fully chromatic because they have three separate keys for tone control. Some of them also be built with a a trigger operation to fix bad notes by the use of the few control keys. This line can be initiated while playing the trumpet and the change is so little that it will be unheard when it is used. The spit valve is helpful for releasing any mucus that has built up in the tube just beyond the mouthpiece. The history of trumpets is fascinating and these instruments go as far back in time; as far in history as 2000 B.C.

The sound of a trumpet is created by the combination, inclusion, or emulation of the three main buttons. The sound produced is possible because of the vibration of the musician's lips as it relates to the mouthpiece and then changed further by the buttons before the sound reaches the bell, or end, of the object. The collision of combinations of air manipulation became fundamentally important to the exploration of certain types of music. Since the finger controls can be changed to produce any sound, all types of music has been known to include a trumpet from time to time.

Trumpets are pitched specifically for the soprano range of tones. This means, the chromatic range of sounds made go from F sharp down to C - just above the clef controls air for treble ranges. Though, the broad range of options for trumpets are not held to that range in tones; some belt out notes in the G and high C area.

Trumpets, like many pieces of merchandise, come in many styles and kinds. Some are preferred over others. Furthermore, and due to this range, they range widely by cost. In addition, lots of them have other features for pitching that do not come standard. Some of the better known kinds of trumpets include:

Piccolo, Brass, Herald, Natural, Slide and Bronze

The use of trumpets goes as far back as 2000 B.C. where played in the bands in religious service. The first types of trumpets included materials that were blown into, like: a length of bamboo, or antler, or bone. The bible contains many references to trumpets and some were discovered in the burial grounds of the well-known Egyptian King, Tutankhamen. In the 14th century, manufacturers introduced the folded trumpet that is like trumpets of later times where the metal piping is folded and arched from bell to lip position. The earlier trumpets were merely straight and elongated with a bell on one end and a mouthpiece on the other. When operas were popular, the trumpet was put to use in 1607 during a well-known Opera called Orfeo. Later on in history, trumpets were used for military communications but were later developed to play music. In the 19th century, trumpets became an important instrument during symphony orchestras. Nowadays, these instruments are seen in jazz bands, military productions, marching productions, and at times, rock bands.

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