by Zilia C. Estrada

From marine conch shells to the lengthy alphorns, the trumpet is an innovative musical instrument found in many communities. Historically, trumpets have been made from bamboo, cane, silver, shell, ivory, wood or bone. Many instruments were relatively straight in shape, such as the Arabic nafir which resembles European coach horns. More recently, trumpets have been constructed from brass and other metals. Most contemporary western trumpets are endblown, often with a detachable mouthpiece and a curved bell.
Trumpets have long been associated with military and ceremonial events both as signaling and as melodic instruments. According to the Talmud, two silver trumpets were used in the rites of the Daily Whole Offering in the Temple.
The art of tonguing or articulating notes, codified initially in the 16 century, is one of the many demanding technical skills for trumpet players. The pressure and shape of your lips in the mouthpiece and the strength of the air pressure you use in combination with the valves determine the pitch you produce.
There are many varieties of of these instruments, some curved, some with slides, and some with two or more coils along the body of the instrument. In Europe and North America, the three-valve B-flat trumpet is currently most popular. It is heard in every style of western music from mariachi ensembles to jazz groups, classical orchestras and marching bands.
Among the influential performers of this century are jazz artists Louis Armstrong, Doc Cheatham, Herb Alpert, Chet Atkins, Don Cherry, Maynard Ferguson along with Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis,two pioneers of bebop; classical performer Gunther Schuller and the versatile Wynton Marsalis, and Rafael Mendez.