The natural trumpet is a similar instrument to the modern trumpet, but it is an older version of the instrument. There are no keys or valves on a natural trumpet that allow the player to change the pitch manually. To produce new notes, the player relies solely on his breathing and embouchure. This ancient instrument has been used for thousands of years and comes in a variety of styles and forms.
This trumpet differs from modern concert trumpets in that it lacks keys or other movable parts for changing the instrument’s pitch. Instead, the musician alters his or her playing style to produce different notes on the natural trumpet. Blowing into the natural trumpet faster, for example, can produce a different tone. To produce a different note, the player can change his embouchure, or the position of his facial muscles.
The trumpet has played an important role throughout history. Ancient Greeks and Romans used the natural trumpet as a signaling device rather than a musical instrument. The trumpet was not used in concerts or musical compositions until the 14th century. During the Baroque period of the 17th and 18th centuries, the natural trumpet was extremely popular, and it was frequently used popular composers. The modern-day keyed concert trumpets were developed in the late 1700s, but they were not particularly popular until recently.
Because the natural trumpet has been used many different cultures and geographical regions throughout history, it is not uncommon to find these instruments made in a variety of styles. They can be made of wood, ivory, or seashells, but metal is the most common material. Elephant tusks were used to make ivory trumpets, while conch shells were used with little to no modification to their shape. Long, thin tubes ranging from 2 to 6 feet (0.5 to 2 meters) in length, with the end of the instrument flaring out into a bell shape, could be seen in wood and metal trumpets. Metal trumpets with a natural curve in the tube are possible.
Natural trumpets are no longer widely used. Instead, concert trumpets with keys and valves are used. When the conductor wants the orchestra to achieve an authentic sound for older compositions that were written specifically for the natural trumpet, natural trumpets can still be seen in productions.