 | This articleis largely based on an article in the out-of-copyrightEncyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, which was produced in 1911. It should be brought up to date to reflect subsequent history or scholarship (including the references, if any). When you have completed the review, replace this notice with a simple note on this article's talk page.(January 2011) |
AHolztrompete (Wooden Trumpet), generally refers to natural trumpets whose conical or cylindrical blowpipe is made of wood and can be from half a meter to five meters long. The best-known wooden trumpet is the Swiss alphorn. Their design and traditional function was as a signaling and warning instrument used by shepherds and sometimes for ritual occasions.
In classical music, one was designed byRichard Wagner for representing the natural pipe of the peasant inTristan und Isolde. This instrument is not unlike thecor anglais in rough outline, being a conical tube of approximately the same length, terminating in a small globular bell, but having neither holes nor keys; it is blown through a cupshaped mouthpiece made ofhorn. The Holztrompete is in the key of C; the scale is produced by overblowing, whereby the upper partials from the 2nd to the 6th are produced. A single piston placed at a third of the distance from the mouthpiece to the bell gives the notes D and F.[1]
Wagner inserted a note in the score concerning the cor anglais for which the part was originally scored, and advised the use ofoboe orclarinet to reinforce the latter, the effect intended being that of a powerful natural instrument, unless a wooden instrument with a natural scale be specially made for the part, which would be preferable. The Holztrompete was used atMunich for the first performance ofTristan and Isolde, and was still in use there in 1897.[1] AtBayreuth it was also used for theTristan performances at the festivals of 1886 and 1889, but in 1891Wilhelm Heckel'sclarina, an instrument partaking of the nature of both oboe and clarinet, was substituted for the Holztrompete and was found more effective.[2]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Schlesinger, Kathleen (1911). "Holztrompete". InChisholm, Hugh (ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 624.
