| An Introductory History of the Bugle From its early origins to the present day by Jari Villanueva |
Where to begin? How to approach an elusive subject such as the history of bugles?
The first thing is to find a definition of "bugle." And as we explore the history of the bugle, it is necessary also
to incorporate a history of its sister instrument the trumpet. In both cases we are dealing with a brass
instrument without valves, and both are played in the same manner.
The basic difference between bugles and trumpets is found in the shape of the bell. The musical definition of a
trumpet (natural trumpet) is that of a horn which has two thirds of its length in the form of a cylindrical tube -
usually it is five sixths of the total length. A bugle has a conical shape through-out. We can therefore make the
general assumption that a trumpet is cylindrically shaped with a cup-shaped mouthpiece, while a bugle is conical
in nature with a funnel-shaped mouthpiece. The shape of the bell plus the shape of the mouthpiece produces a
different quality of sound in each. The trumpet is known for its bright, strident, brash sound, while the bugle is
known for its darker and mellower tone. Today, the term "bugle" can simply mean a brass instrument without
valves or slides.
The first thing is to find a definition of "bugle." And as we explore the history of the bugle, it is necessary also
to incorporate a history of its sister instrument the trumpet. In both cases we are dealing with a brass
instrument without valves, and both are played in the same manner.
The basic difference between bugles and trumpets is found in the shape of the bell. The musical definition of a
trumpet (natural trumpet) is that of a horn which has two thirds of its length in the form of a cylindrical tube -
usually it is five sixths of the total length. A bugle has a conical shape through-out. We can therefore make the
general assumption that a trumpet is cylindrically shaped with a cup-shaped mouthpiece, while a bugle is conical
in nature with a funnel-shaped mouthpiece. The shape of the bell plus the shape of the mouthpiece produces a
different quality of sound in each. The trumpet is known for its bright, strident, brash sound, while the bugle is
known for its darker and mellower tone. Today, the term "bugle" can simply mean a brass instrument without
valves or slides.
| An Imperial trumpeter of the 1700s |
Another shared attribute of the bugle and the natural trumpet is the number of notes they can produce. Natural trumpets and bugles, unlike the
modern three-valved instruments today, can only produce a limited number of notes found in the harmonic series of a single fundamental tone. All
musical sounds that we hear contain overtones, or tones that resonate in fixed relationships above a fundamental frequency. In Western tradition, we
credit Pythagoras with discovering the harmonic (or overtone) series; however, other peoples such as the Egyptians, Chinese, and Babylonians knew of
harmonics before he did. Pythagoras discovered that a monochord (single tone) vibrates not only at its fundamental frequency, but also in partial
segments - halves, thirds, fourths, etc., to a theoretically infinite degree. The harmonic series are the notes (or partials) that are created when a
fundamental note is struck. It is the presence of these overtones that creates tonal color, and that helps us to differentiate the sounds of a harpsichord
and a piano, a trumpet and a trombone, or one voice and another. Humans do not perceive overtones much past the fifteenth partial, because as
overtones become higher, they become increasingly difficult to hear.
modern three-valved instruments today, can only produce a limited number of notes found in the harmonic series of a single fundamental tone. All
musical sounds that we hear contain overtones, or tones that resonate in fixed relationships above a fundamental frequency. In Western tradition, we
credit Pythagoras with discovering the harmonic (or overtone) series; however, other peoples such as the Egyptians, Chinese, and Babylonians knew of
harmonics before he did. Pythagoras discovered that a monochord (single tone) vibrates not only at its fundamental frequency, but also in partial
segments - halves, thirds, fourths, etc., to a theoretically infinite degree. The harmonic series are the notes (or partials) that are created when a
fundamental note is struck. It is the presence of these overtones that creates tonal color, and that helps us to differentiate the sounds of a harpsichord
and a piano, a trumpet and a trombone, or one voice and another. Humans do not perceive overtones much past the fifteenth partial, because as
overtones become higher, they become increasingly difficult to hear.
The notes that are available in the harmonic series include the fundamental note plus 11 upper partials. The higher the overtones go, the closer in pitch
the notes become. As an example, when "Great C" is played on the piano it generates the following overtones: C - c - g - c1 - e1 - g1 - b flat1 - c2 - d2 -
e2 - f#2 - g2. The natural trumpet and bugle with the fundamental pitch of c use five notes of the series, i.e. c1 - g1 - c2 - e2 - g2. These are the 5 notes
on which most bugle calls are written. A sixth note (c3) is found in trumpet music but is rarely found in bugle music. The fundamental note of any horn
is determined by the length of its tubing; trumpets are found in keys of C, D, Eb and F, and bugles are found in the key of G, Bb and C.
the notes become. As an example, when "Great C" is played on the piano it generates the following overtones: C - c - g - c1 - e1 - g1 - b flat1 - c2 - d2 -
e2 - f#2 - g2. The natural trumpet and bugle with the fundamental pitch of c use five notes of the series, i.e. c1 - g1 - c2 - e2 - g2. These are the 5 notes
on which most bugle calls are written. A sixth note (c3) is found in trumpet music but is rarely found in bugle music. The fundamental note of any horn
is determined by the length of its tubing; trumpets are found in keys of C, D, Eb and F, and bugles are found in the key of G, Bb and C.
Baroque trumpets
A natural trumpet or bugle, then, can theoretically play any and all of the tones that are at integer multiples of the lowest frequency with which its tube
is capable of resonating. To play these tones on a brass instrument requires a method of vibrating the lips into the mouthpiece to raise or lower the
pitch within the harmonic series. (On other instruments of the orchestral family sound is produced by the vibration of strings, reeds or animal skins.)
Normally it is difficult to make a brass instrument resonate at its fundamental.
is capable of resonating. To play these tones on a brass instrument requires a method of vibrating the lips into the mouthpiece to raise or lower the
pitch within the harmonic series. (On other instruments of the orchestral family sound is produced by the vibration of strings, reeds or animal skins.)
Normally it is difficult to make a brass instrument resonate at its fundamental.
Starting from almost the same original idea (an animal horn), the bugle and trumpet evolved into instruments
of different usage. From the bronze and silver horns, the trumpet made its way into the symphony
orchestra of the 18th century. The major Classical composers (Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven) made use of
its fanfare qualities, albeit with limited notes, in their symphonies and usually paired the trumpets with the
notes of the tympani. The bugle first appears as a hunting horn with the distinctive coil we mostly associate
with modern french horns. In the late 18th century the bugle then took on the form we know today. Both
trumpet and bugle underwent many experiments in the quest to add chromatic pitches to their playable
notes. Both added keys in the late 18th century, and later valves in the 19th century. The trumpet became
the instrument we are familiar with in bands and orchestras today while the bugle with valves evolved into
the modern cornets and flugelhorns.
The military has long blurred the distinction between the two and still does to this day. It is interesting to
note that today when a brass player is assigned to "bugler duty" that person will show up with a modern Bb
valved trumpet to sound bugle calls.
of different usage. From the bronze and silver horns, the trumpet made its way into the symphony
orchestra of the 18th century. The major Classical composers (Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven) made use of
its fanfare qualities, albeit with limited notes, in their symphonies and usually paired the trumpets with the
notes of the tympani. The bugle first appears as a hunting horn with the distinctive coil we mostly associate
with modern french horns. In the late 18th century the bugle then took on the form we know today. Both
trumpet and bugle underwent many experiments in the quest to add chromatic pitches to their playable
notes. Both added keys in the late 18th century, and later valves in the 19th century. The trumpet became
the instrument we are familiar with in bands and orchestras today while the bugle with valves evolved into
the modern cornets and flugelhorns.
The military has long blurred the distinction between the two and still does to this day. It is interesting to
note that today when a brass player is assigned to "bugler duty" that person will show up with a modern Bb
valved trumpet to sound bugle calls.
| "The Farewell" The Trumpeter of Sackingen |
Early bugles and trumpets bear little resemblance to those of today. Trumpets can be traced to pre-Biblical times when they were used by Egyptians and
Israelites. The earliest trumpets were straight instruments with no mouthpiece and no flaring bell. These trumpets were actually megaphones into
which one spoke, sang, or roared. The effect was to distort the natural voice and produce a harsh sound in order to frighten evil spirits.
Ancient trumpets were used at religious ceremonies and associated with magical rites. Burials, circumcisions, and sunset rites (to ensure the sun would
return) were a few of the early ceremonies in which the trumpet was used. It was a male-dominated practice and among certain tribes of the Amazon
any woman who looked at a trumpet was killed. The tradition of playing at sunrise (Reveille), sunset (Retreat), and at burials (Taps) may have evolved
from these ancient rituals.
Israelites. The earliest trumpets were straight instruments with no mouthpiece and no flaring bell. These trumpets were actually megaphones into
which one spoke, sang, or roared. The effect was to distort the natural voice and produce a harsh sound in order to frighten evil spirits.
Ancient trumpets were used at religious ceremonies and associated with magical rites. Burials, circumcisions, and sunset rites (to ensure the sun would
return) were a few of the early ceremonies in which the trumpet was used. It was a male-dominated practice and among certain tribes of the Amazon
any woman who looked at a trumpet was killed. The tradition of playing at sunrise (Reveille), sunset (Retreat), and at burials (Taps) may have evolved
from these ancient rituals.
The Rams Horn (Shofar) is sounded on the occasion of the Jewish New Year in a rite that
continues to this day. The Shofar, made from the horn of a ritually killed sheep or goat, is
played in the same manner as it was in the time of King David, using the same rhythms as in
ancient times. The instrumental range of the Shofar is usually limited to two notes about a
fifth apart.
The instruments found in ancient Egyptian art are short straight instruments of wood,
bronze or silver and are depicted accompanying marching soldiers. The oldest surviving
examples of metal trumpets are the two instruments that were discovered in the tomb of
the Egyptian pharaoh, Tutankhamun.
continues to this day. The Shofar, made from the horn of a ritually killed sheep or goat, is
played in the same manner as it was in the time of King David, using the same rhythms as in
ancient times. The instrumental range of the Shofar is usually limited to two notes about a
fifth apart.
The instruments found in ancient Egyptian art are short straight instruments of wood,
bronze or silver and are depicted accompanying marching soldiers. The oldest surviving
examples of metal trumpets are the two instruments that were discovered in the tomb of
the Egyptian pharaoh, Tutankhamun.
Examples of the Rams Horn, or Shofar
King Tutankhamun reigned from about 1340-1331 B.C. which places his life during the Bronze Age.
The discovery in the 20th century of these horns confirmed the existence of trumpets during the
Egyptian period time as had been seen in many paintings and reliefs. The two instruments have
short expanding bells. One is 58 cm. long of silver and the other 94.4 cm. long of sheet bronze,
partly clad with gold. According to trumpeter and historian Don L. Smithers, the longer of the two is
pitched in the key of Bb and the other is in the key of C.
The discovery in the 20th century of these horns confirmed the existence of trumpets during the
Egyptian period time as had been seen in many paintings and reliefs. The two instruments have
short expanding bells. One is 58 cm. long of silver and the other 94.4 cm. long of sheet bronze,
partly clad with gold. According to trumpeter and historian Don L. Smithers, the longer of the two is
pitched in the key of Bb and the other is in the key of C.
| Trumpets discovered in the tomb of King Tutankhamun |
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