Natural horn

Natural horn is a general term for forest horn-shaped brass instruments or similar instruments that are blown by the principle of cushion whistle with instrument mouthpieces. They have no finger holes still flaps, valves or a telescopic handles like the trumpet, with which in this pitch can be changed by changing the length of the resonance tube. On a natural horn only sounds of nature can be blown ( for exceptions see below for case: how to play ).

Design

Horns are traditionally made of different materials. Originally, the horny substance or wooden tubes, also typical brass instruments made ​​of brass or other copper alloys can be found. Horny substance can be made somewhat flexible by heating, thereby also their shape can be varied within certain limits.

Wooden natural trumpets are hollowed out with different techniques. The outer basic shape remains in the rule.

The horn as a typical circular spiral brass instrument arose from the need to make the length of pipe needed practical and transportable. This is very well seen in the metal-made instruments.

Play

The natural tones are generated by the approach with the lips (see Brass Instrument ). In order to play the sounds in between, the hand is more or less widely introduced in the horn, see plug. This creates quite a different tone, which is avoided with the more modern valve horn.

A special feature of wind instruments in general is the simultaneous production of two or more tones. In this case, a sound is normally produced with the lips, the second tone is dazugesungen simultaneously. Depending on the interval distance hear two to four tones. Here come the phenomena of acoustic deception on such combination tone or Residualton. In practical, it is in a cadence to a horn concerto by Carl Maria von Weber or the trombone playing of the jazz trombonist Konrad Bauer.

Depending on the application meaning the instruments individually (solo ), unison or polyphonic blown into groups. Also, different applications of the same instrument are possible.

Typical natural horns are:

• The alphorn
• The historic valveless Corno da caccia, there developed the Inventionshorn in Baroque music
• The Parforcehorn, it was for hunting the Prince Pless horn
• The Lure
• The Middewinterhorn
• The post horn
• The Russian horns, occupy a special position with respect to the polyphonic play in music
• The guard horn ( cf. night watchman ), fire horn as a typical instrument signal

The didgeridoo is usually played with the deepest natural tones using a special blowing technique.