Herald or Trumpeter???

A Brief History Lesson

Question: Was a Renaissance Court Trumpeter also a Herald?

Answer: Depends on the country. In England -- No, They were simply Trumpeters. However, in Italy, they were both!

For those who study and re-enact the English Renaissance, a Herald is not a Trumpeter.  Heralds are members of the College of Arms who are responsible for genealogical research to establish rights to patents of nobility, and maintain the official records of the grants of “Coats of Arms”. A detailed account of English Heralds can be found here.

In Italy it was very different.  In addition to their functions in sounding fanfares for ceremonial purposes, they acted as heralds, announcing public ceremonies, making official proclamations, and announcing jousts.  Italian court trumpeters acted as negotiators for the release of prisoners of war or political prisoners as they were regarded as officials of the royal court.  In legal documents they were referred to as Heralds.  It is probably from this historical fact that today; many regard all renaissance trumpeters as heralds.

Mounted Trumpeters at Joust

Heralds on Hoseback (Center) Flanked by their Trumpeters

Question: Were "Royal Court Trumpeters" - the term used to identify English court trumpet players in Renaissance times, poor peasants who wanted to play a musical instrument.

Answer: No.

In order to be a trumpeter, you had to come from a well-to-do family where an education could be provided. But using the term musician with respect to a trumpeter in the Elizabethan period is not really fashionable. The trumpet was just starting to be accepted as a musical instrument. The trumpet was originally just a "noise maker" used to arouse fear and get the rapid attention of the public. A group of out of tune trumpets, blowing simultaneously would definitely get the attention of the enemy and could turn the tide in a battle. A single trumpet was a signalling device. Also, it is during this period that trumpets are being manufactured to closer tolerances between individual instruments. They were now in tune with each other. In the period we portray, the trumpet has evolved more into a musical instrument because they are manufactured to a musical standard, to ensure harmonious compatibility with other musical instruments of the period.

Famous Royal Court Trumpeters or Relations:

Question: How old are trumpets? Is the renaissance where we first see trumpets being used in ceremonies?

Answer: Oh No. A trumpet played in 1353 BC is the oldest trumpet in existence, found in King Tut's tomb. It's 120 cm long (about 2 feet) and is a conical tube which flares to a 26cm diameter bell (about 10 inches). Follow this link to experience the sound of a trumpet from the time of the Pharoah's!!

Question: What kind of trumpets do trumpeters of H.M. Heralds use?

Answer: The trumpet of the renaissance period is known today as a "natural trumpet". It is also called a "baroque trumpet” to differentiate it from a "modern trumpet" which is the trumpet with valves. H.M. Heralds use reproductions of the period appropriate "Natural Trumpet" shown below as well as a modern "Herald Bugles" that mimic the look of a buisine.  For a complete review of the instruments we use follow the H.M.Heralds Trumpets link in the menu.

Question: But that trumpet is folded. What about the long straight trumpets I see in the movies?

Answer:The long straight trumpets went out of vogue in the mid 1400's. Trumpeters in the military were assigned to the cavalry. They had to be able to ride horses and send signals. Even in depictions of tournaments we see trumpeters on horseback. A long straight trumpet is not easily carried or even blown on horseback due to its length. So it had to be folded. A straight trumpet is a busine or businen, and were common in what we now call Germany. In fact, the Germanic people of that period referred to the "folded' trumpet as an "Italian Trumpet". In the period we portray, the busine is now an antique, over a hundred years old.