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Meet the Instruments |
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| The Four Families |
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The Brass Family The brass instruments are the most powerful in the orchestra. Composers use them to give the music volume and excitement. This family includes the TRUMPET, FRENCH HORN, TROMBONE, and TUBA. |
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The TRUMPET is the soprano or high voice of the brass family. When a composer wants a melody to sing especially loud and clear, he gives it to the trumpets. It is one of the oldest instruments. Because it is loud and its sound carries for great distances, the trumpet was used by armies to signal an attack during a battle. |
Click to Sample Trumpet
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The FRENCH HORN has a mellow, golden tone and plays in the middle range, although it can play deep bass notes, too. It is often associated with fox hunts. When one of the horseback riders spotted the fox, he would blow this horn. |
Click to Sample French Horn
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The TROMBONE, unlike the trumpet, tuba, and French horn it has no valves. Instead, the players must slide a length of tubing in and out to achieve different pitches. A trombonist must have a very good ear in order to stop the slide at just the right place to get the pitch he wants. |
Click to Sample Trombone (combo)
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The TUBA is the deep bass voice of the brass family. It is so big and powerful an instrument that only one of them is usually needed in the orchestra. |
Click to Sample Tuba
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