What is the history of the trumpet?

The Trumpet has probably been in existence since the dawn of man. I

t is likely that prehistoric man may have fashioned animal horns into primitive trumpets to communicate over distance or frighten enemies.

The Bible celebrates the trumpet in the story of the walls of Jericho, where the sound of the trumpets in Joshua's army were supposed to have brought down the walls.

The Roman Empire used natural Trumpets (no valves, 400bc-700ad) for celebrations and war manoeuvre's.

The Serpent was used in the Baroque (16thC) period and was a bass horn instrument much like a tuba is used today. But during this period there were many different types of natural trumpets. (A natural trumpet is a straight or coiled tube with a mouthpiece and a bell and no valves).

The modern piston (Jazz) trumpet which we know today, wasn't really formalised in design until the late 19th century.

Now the trumpet family contains the following instrument types;

Post horn (Specialist use)

Alpine Horn (Specialist use Bavarian?)

Jazz Trumpet (various keys, general use)

Rotary Trumpet (Orchesteral use)

FlugalHorn (Jazz Brass band and orchesteral use)

Cornet (General use)