Baritone

The baritone comes from a long tradition of trumpet-like instruments first used in the ancient world for signaling and ceremony. Only a few notes could be played on these instruments made of conch shells, animal horns, and hollowed branches. By Roman times, and for centuries thereafter, brass trumpets and horns were common at military and civilian events. The first baritones apeared in the late 1830's, just a few years after the invention of valved brass instruments. By 1850, baritones were used extensively in military and school bands. They were often featured as solo instruments. Baritones used during the American Civil War had bells which pointed backwards over the player's left shoulder. Since the band marched at the head of the army, this was necessary to allow the other soldiers to hear the music. After the Civil War, marching military bands gave way to concert bands, and baritones with bells pointing upward or frontward became standard.

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