Trumpet
The trumpet originated in ancient times as a kind of hunting horn. In this illustration in a medieval manuscript, we see a little figure blowing a horn or trumpet. It's not clear why he's blowing it into another little guy's butt.
Another medieval manuscript illustration shows a guy blowing a trumpet in a peculiar way. There are quite a few of these medieval illustrations showing guys blowing trumpets out of their butts. Something tells me that the monks who spent their lives copying and illustrating these manuscripts may have gotten bored, and this was their equivalent of a fart joke.
The ancient trumpet was closer to what we would now call a bugle, capable of playing only a few notes generated as harmonics, as heard in familiar bugle calls such as "reveille" and "taps".
This is Sebastian, a member of the French band Le Groupe Electrogène Fanfare Club, holding a modern trumpet. In the modern trumpet, the long tube is coiled, making it a more compact instrument. It also has three valves that the player operates with his fingers. The valves change the pitch, allowing the trumpet to play all the notes of the musical scale.
Here's a guy who loves his trumpet.
Perhaps this guy loves his trumpet too much. Trumpet players often insert things called mutes into their trumpets. A mute not only reduces the volume; it can change the timbre of the sound depending on the shape and composition of the mute, for example making it more nasal and raspy or smoother and more mellow. I don't know what the sonic effect is of using a penis as a mute.
Trumpets also have a water key, commonly called a spit valve, that lets the player drain out water that condenses from his breath. Possibly the spit valve might come in handy after this guy is finished.
2 comments:
Trumpet is one of THE most difficult instruments to play. Anyone who can master it has my appreciation.
The French lad’s name is Lucien. A friend of mine in London “met up” with him after his performance, and, well, as they say, the rest is history.
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