MUSICAL INSTIIUMENTS. 
may be made to yield every note and semi- 
tone within their whole compass, so as to go 
through all the intricate passages of solo- 
concertos; but to perform in such style, and, 
indeed, to manage the slides with tolerable 
accuracy, requires a faithful hand, and the 
greatest promptness. We have heard that 
some performers can reach to G in alt ; and, 
by a peculiar mode of forming the mouth- 
piece, perform duets ; playing two distinct 
parts. We have heard this done upon a 
French horn, with surprising distinctions and 
perfect intonation. Within these few years 
a new instrument of the trumpet species has 
been introduced into full bands ; this is the 
trombone, of which there are various into- 
nations, viz. the bass, the tenor, and the 
alto. They all have their appropriate uses, 
and in some passages produce a very grand 
effect ; especially in serious pantomime, 
and such passages as demand the greatest 
exertion on the part of the band. We are, 
nevertheless, obliged to acknowledge, that 
in too many instances we have heard the too 
forcible notes of the trombone, too power- 
fully and too indiscriminately uttered. Com- 
posers should consider this instrument as the 
Ultima ThitU of those grave sounds which 
seem to be travelling towards the lowest 
abyss of musical profundity. They should 
also recollect, that the performers on this 
potent tube rarely take it up except to 
give the utmost emphasis to some strong 
marked passage ; whence they conclude it 
necessary to out-Stentor Stentor, and abso- 
lutely “ to split the ears of the groundlings.” 
It does not appear possible, that the 
trombone can, like the trumpet, be played 
with a sweet soft tone, not louder than a 
flute ; from all we have heard it is, even 
when in the best hands, harsh, and almost 
unmusical. 
We have various sizes of trumpets, some 
intended for concerts, and of course fur- 
nished with crooks ; others are in use in our 
cavalry, made short and compact, and inva- 
riably pitched to one key; it is not un- 
pleasant, though rather uncommon, to hear 
the trumpets of a cavalry corps, sounding 
their several calls in parts ; though the har- 
mony is not varied, there is yet a something 
in it that reconciles us to its narrow limits, 
and indeed to the imperfectness of many 
reputed concords ; few of which can 
be sounded correctly on trumpets. The 
sackbut, formerly in use among the He- 
brews, and which is so often mentioned in 
scripture, was the basis of the modern 
trumpet ; and, like it, could be lengthened 
at pleasure, so as to accord with other in- 
struments. The clarion was a small trumpet. 
The Hebrews called their sacred trumpets 
keranim. 
The next in this class is the French Horn ; 
of which we have various sizes and descrip- 
tions. Those intended for concerts have, 
like the trumpet, various crooks, and a 
slide, whereby they may be brought to 
accord with the most scrupulous exactness. 
The horn always has its music written in 
the key of C, and acquires any other key 
at pleasure, by the addition of such crooks 
as may bring it to the proper pitch : the 
more crooks are affixed, the deeper will be 
the intonation. There is a very strong 
affinity between the horn and the trumpet, 
in regard to their capability of producing 
particular notes ; what has already been 
said of the latter, in that respect, applies 
equally to the former. The finest notes of 
this instrument lie near the middle of the 
treble stave, or at furthest between G and 
C ; though its low notes, when properly 
sounded, are very full and mellow. In 
skilful hands the horn is a most pleasing 
instrument; but when consigned to the 
learner, it, as well as the trumpet, is into- 
lerable. Properly speaking, horns are te- 
nor instruments, their tones being an oc- 
tave below those of the trumpet ; we have, 
however, tenor and bass horns ; though the 
former are rather uncommon : the latter 
are very powerful, and have a fine effect 
in military bqnds. The mouth-piece for 
this instrument is generally conical; the 
formation of the notes allowing more free- 
dom, and requiring greater relaxation fpr 
all below the key-note than the trumpet, 
which demands a peculiar constriction of 
the lips to blow with clearness, and in tune. 
Formerly the hunting horn was very large, 
so that it could be carried like a belt over 
one shoulder, and under the other ; but of 
late years the practice has been to substi- 
tute a small crooked copper horn, which 
the huntsman fastens to a stirrup leather, or 
a sling : hence the old hunting music is 
nearly obsolete, for the small instrument 
now in use, and which is likewise borne by 
many of tire guards to the mail- coaches, &c. 
is incapable of sounding many notes : tlie 
modern hunting calls are therefore mono- 
tonous. 
The Bugle can scarcely be; rated among 
musical instruments, but being found in 
military bands, we shall notice it. This 
instrument had its origin in the common 
siiepherd's horn, i. e. that of an ox; it 
