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Introduction |
Guns fired, cannons blasted, and suddenly, a sound emerged, a sound that could have only come from a bugle. The attacking army retreated, and the defending army celebrated. This is just one example of how brass instruments (like bugles) are used. You may have seen some of the shiny trumpets, tubas, French horns, and trombones of today, but did you know that they are traceable back to the 2000’s B.C.? We found in looking at the use of brass instruments throughout history that they were important in enhancing our understanding of communication. In ancient times, the piercing one-note sound made by horns could be heard for miles and were ideal for basic announcements and calls. Brass instruments were developed and improved so that they could make more notes. People were able to play patterns of notes that signified important messages that could be heard at a distance and over the sound of battle. With the advancement of modern brass instruments and modern playing techniques, people today can use brass instruments to communicate feelings and artistic expression in complex musical pieces. The history of brass instruments helps us to understand that the modern use of brass instruments has deep ties to the religious, social and military usages of brass instruments throughout the ages.
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