The History of the Trumpet
The trumpet is one of the oldest instruments in the history of the world. The first trumpets were actually made of hollowed out animal horns, tusks, bone, branches, ivory, pottery, cane, and shells.
These prehistoric trumpets were used mostly to make announcements, warnings, and communications for ceremonies, wars, rituals, magic, and royalty. Since they were used for special purposes, they were thought to have magical powers and considered sacred. Only spritiual leaders were allowed to use these magical instruments.
The Bronze Age, c. 3600 B.C., brought innovative production methods for trumpets. Making the trumpets in gold, silver, bronze, and copper made them even more majestic and changed the timbre of the instuments. They were designed with special insignias and decorations to mark their purpose.
The Egyptians believed the trumpet was invented by the god, Osiris. They used the instruments for the worship of Osiris and the military. Two trum
pets were discovered in King Tutankhamen's tomb, one of silver and one of bronze with gold. They were marked with the king's name and military divisional emblems. The silver one was disastrously shattered when someone tried to play it.
The nomadic Teutonic tribes also used trumpets. They were made in the shape of a "G" with a conical bore, like a cornet, and a fringe of jingling plates next to the mouthpiece, and were known as a "lur". Many dozen lurs have been found throughout Sweden, Denmark, Northern Germany, Norway, and Ireland.