The horn, also known as the ‘hunting horn', was originally used for military purposes and on hunting expeditions. The orchestral horn that appeared in 17th century France was the direct successor to the trompe de chasse (hunting horn), a full metal tube of increasingly wide diameter for two-thirds of its length which was wound into a circular shape and tapered into a flared bell. The so-called ‘natural horn', with no valves, can only play certain notes within a given key. Attempts were made to resolve this deficiency through the use of slides or restricting the tube by hand to modify the pitch of the sound produced. Valves started to be added in the early 19th century, allowing the instrument to play in every key. The horn then went on to become an indispensable member of the symphony orchestra.

Age: 8-12 year
Presented by: Müpa Budapest