Cornet History
The cornet's history begins wiht the post horn of the
late 1500's. The post hornwas a short instrument used to signal
the approach of the mail wagon. Over time, the instrument
was lengthened and it was used to play fanfare-like calls.
The addition of valves of the post horn in 1828 formed the modern valve cornet.
The mellow sound of the cornet was instantly popular and many
brilliant cornet solos were written from 1858 to 1890.
The cornet was popular in jazz bands until 1920, when it was
replaced by the trumpet.
Today, cornets are played primarily in school, community,
and military bands. The cornet often plays the same music as the trumpet, although
sometimes there is a separate cornet part.
Trumpet On-lineŠ Copyright 1999