12-31-2012, 09:23 PM
The Greeks used an instrument called a Salpinx, from what research I have done, it one of the only 'brass instruments' used in ancient Greece. The instrument was averaged between 2ft and 4ft in lenght, it sole purpose was for communication and public address. There are valse paintings of the Salpinx players, I have a sketch of one in a book by John Landels - Music of Ancient Greece and Rome.
The Romans had 4 main brass instruments instruments - Lituus, Tuba, Cornu and Buccina.
The lituus is a 'J Shaped' instrument where the bell curves up and rearwards. Uses ceremonial, however by the 1st Century its use faded in favour of other instruments.
Tuba (Latin for Tube) was a straight semi-conical instrument about 4[sup]1[/sup]/[sub]2[/sub]ft putting it around Bb in pitch, about the same sort of length as a modern Bb Trumpet (without valve system). Uses included the ceremonial, concerts/entertainment and battlefield communication. Players were called "Tubicen, pl. Tubicines"
Buccina and the Cornu were the curved instruments though the distinction between the two is still debated by scholars, personally I think the difference may have been the shape of bore, fully conical (Cornu - Latin for Horn) and semi-conical (Buccina - Latin for Trumpet) . They on average between nine and twelve feet long (trombone to french horn length), and pitched the instrument between Bb and F.
Because of the length the instruments were, it meant that with a complementary mouthpiece the range of notes that instruments could play was extensive. This was used for Battlefield communication, and was used in concerts and entertainments. Players were called "Cornicen, pl. Cornicines" and "Buccinaetors" the muscles in our cheeks near the mouth are called "Buccinaetors" and the etymological link gives an idea on the technique used for playing. Brass players use the same technique today.
After the fall of the Roman Empire in the West, the trumpet died out and only returned to western Europe when it was brought back by Crusaders.
I have currently doing extensive research on the subject of Roman brass music.
The Hebrews had (and still use to today for celebrations) called the Shofar
The Romans had 4 main brass instruments instruments - Lituus, Tuba, Cornu and Buccina.
The lituus is a 'J Shaped' instrument where the bell curves up and rearwards. Uses ceremonial, however by the 1st Century its use faded in favour of other instruments.
Tuba (Latin for Tube) was a straight semi-conical instrument about 4[sup]1[/sup]/[sub]2[/sub]ft putting it around Bb in pitch, about the same sort of length as a modern Bb Trumpet (without valve system). Uses included the ceremonial, concerts/entertainment and battlefield communication. Players were called "Tubicen, pl. Tubicines"
Buccina and the Cornu were the curved instruments though the distinction between the two is still debated by scholars, personally I think the difference may have been the shape of bore, fully conical (Cornu - Latin for Horn) and semi-conical (Buccina - Latin for Trumpet) . They on average between nine and twelve feet long (trombone to french horn length), and pitched the instrument between Bb and F.
Because of the length the instruments were, it meant that with a complementary mouthpiece the range of notes that instruments could play was extensive. This was used for Battlefield communication, and was used in concerts and entertainments. Players were called "Cornicen, pl. Cornicines" and "Buccinaetors" the muscles in our cheeks near the mouth are called "Buccinaetors" and the etymological link gives an idea on the technique used for playing. Brass players use the same technique today.
After the fall of the Roman Empire in the West, the trumpet died out and only returned to western Europe when it was brought back by Crusaders.
I have currently doing extensive research on the subject of Roman brass music.
The Hebrews had (and still use to today for celebrations) called the Shofar
Peter
