08-26-2012, 06:18 PM
Few points about the instruments and errors in translations
The Romans did not have cornets, it is a Cornu/Buccina originating from animal horn buccina meaning "bovine note player"(its earliest form pre600BC). A cornet is a modern brass band instrument, and the name is not derived from anything Roman, more the shape of the tubing being conical rather than semi-conical. Cornett a baroque instrument.
On orchestral scores in italian, the Horns are called Corni, which does derive from the Latin "Cornu".
The trumpets where known as Tuba's; literally meaning "tube".
The length of a brass instrument is NOT designed to produce a bigger and louder sound. That is done by the player in conjunction with the mouthpiece. The bore or diameter of the tubing is also important. Though a balance has to be struck to be able to sound calls and producing the sound. If the bore is too narrow the player will not be able to get the air through the instrument and thus no sound, likewise if it is too wide.
The also conical or semi-conical is just as important to creating different types of sound.
The cornu itself is not unwieldy it the bar that goes across just rests on the shoulder. The length of the instrument is designed for its tessitura (pitch range) and notes available to be played. On a Cornu it is possible to play Baroque trumpet music!
The Romans did not have cornets, it is a Cornu/Buccina originating from animal horn buccina meaning "bovine note player"(its earliest form pre600BC). A cornet is a modern brass band instrument, and the name is not derived from anything Roman, more the shape of the tubing being conical rather than semi-conical. Cornett a baroque instrument.
On orchestral scores in italian, the Horns are called Corni, which does derive from the Latin "Cornu".
The trumpets where known as Tuba's; literally meaning "tube".
The length of a brass instrument is NOT designed to produce a bigger and louder sound. That is done by the player in conjunction with the mouthpiece. The bore or diameter of the tubing is also important. Though a balance has to be struck to be able to sound calls and producing the sound. If the bore is too narrow the player will not be able to get the air through the instrument and thus no sound, likewise if it is too wide.
The also conical or semi-conical is just as important to creating different types of sound.
The cornu itself is not unwieldy it the bar that goes across just rests on the shoulder. The length of the instrument is designed for its tessitura (pitch range) and notes available to be played. On a Cornu it is possible to play Baroque trumpet music!
Peter
