Herald Trumpets missing from the SCA?

Christopher Anselm · Post by **Christopher Anselm** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 1:59 pm

I was just wondering why I have never seen heralds in the SCA use trumpets. Is it because of availability, learning curve on playing or some other reason?

Period trumpets are available for well under $100. I think it would really add another level of authenticity.

http://www.goodieboxshoppe.com/CAS.html

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Christopher Anselm of Windsor

Windsor Armouries

cristofre fortescu · Post by **cristofre fortescu** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 2:03 pm

Yeah, and they can play "We Will Rock You" on them like they did in The Knight's Tale...lol

Cristofre

Effingham · Post by **Effingham** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 7:40 pm

Heralds don't use trumpets because of authenticity.

Heralds don't use trumpets. Trumpeteers use trumpets. Heralds are bookkeepers, ambassadors, messengers, and civil servants. They're not musicians.

The SCA heralds' badge was designed in the distant past of the SCA, before anyone thought to look it up.

(Welcome to the Hollywood view of the middle ages.

)

Effingham

Fearghus Macildubh · Post by **Fearghus Macildubh** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 12:35 am

Besides, unless you want court to start with loud rasberry amplified by a period trumpet, you really don't want me to use one. :-)

slainte,
Fearghus

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Jasper · Post by **Jasper** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 7:32 am

plus if the model show is a trumpet shaped piece of brass. My house hold brother has found real ones starting at $700.
The trumpet shaped object may work
with a real mouth piece off a trumpet
and a good trumpet player

Conrad the Mad · Post by **Conrad the Mad** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 8:50 am

I have one of those trumpets. I am no trumpet player but I can get three or four seperate"notes" from it. although they are low notes, not the high regal type notes you see (hear) in the movies.

Christopher Anselm · Post by **Christopher Anselm** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 12:04 pm

So trumpeters are period but not heralds with trumpets?

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Christopher Anselm of Windsor

Windsor Armouries

Effingham · Post by **Effingham** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 6:18 pm

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">So trumpeters are period but not heralds with trumpets? </font>

Bingo.

Effingham

Adriano · Post by **Adriano** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 7:07 pm

Back about twenty years ago, my little shire of Nant-y-Derwyddon obtained a trumpet from somewhere; I suspect it was manufactured purely as a decorative item. One of our members was a trombone player, and was able to get enough notes out of the thing to put together a simple fanfare as our signature. People were impressed.

I'd love to see more trumpets, tabers, pipes, etc. used as part of SCA pageantry. (I've heard enough doumbeks to last me a lifetime, and I hope to never see another court commence with "Carmina Burana" played very loud on a stereo.)

Syrus Leigh · Post by **Syrus Leigh** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 9:23 pm

As a former trombone player, I can say that anyone with a few hours and some determination can get enough notes out of one of those trumpets for a decent fanfare.

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Aye, lads & lasses.

freiman the minstrel · Fri Oct 18, 2002 12:40 am

"As a former trombone player, I can say that anyone with a few hours and some determination can get enough notes out of one of those trumpets for a decent fanfare. "

this is true if they can find somebody to help them get a decent sound out of the thing. everybody is wary (and frightened) of looking the fool. Looking the fool at the opening of court has a very special kind of humiliation fear.

You gotta admit, that "first sound" that neophyte brass players get is pretty darn discouraging.

I. Stewart · Post by **I. Stewart** » Fri Oct 18, 2002 1:17 am

Well, as a current player of the valved trumpet, I think I might be able to pull it off, if I had one of them things...

My uncle has an authentic trumpet. Crazy thing though... Not sure how they made them back then.. but they're..different...

IvarH · Post by **IvarH** » Fri Oct 18, 2002 11:31 am

Ivar here,

The Barony of Adiantum in An Tir probably still has the one that Master William Bjornson hammered out of a length of copper water pipe some years ago. It even has a tapered bore and a decent sound. The baronial herald at the time used to play French horn and could get a fair set of notes out of it. He used to open court and to initiate announcements.

Ivar Hakonarson

T. Finkas · Post by **T. Finkas** » Fri Oct 18, 2002 12:23 pm

The mouthpiece is the key. IMHO, the trumpet doesn't have to be ultra high quality. At one of my first Ren Faires, as an adolescent, I made a trumpet out of 12 feet of coiled copper tubing with a metal funnel on one end and a trumpet mouthpiece on the other. I was able to get enough clear notes out of the thing to play passages from Bach on it!

Makes me consider putting a trumpet mouthpiece-sized hole on my bargrill so I can play trumpet calls out on the SCA battlefield...

Tim

freiman the minstrel · Fri Oct 18, 2002 5:28 pm

"Makes me consider putting a trumpet mouthpiece-sized hole on my bargrill so I can play trumpet calls out on the SCA battlefield..."

I have thought about this too. if you used a straight trumpet, then you would be at great risk of losing teeth. the mouthpeice could be driven back into your face.

But if you used a cavalry Bugle, you could attach a block of some rigid material (Not "rules of the list" rigid, just rigid, like a piece of 2x4) you could maybe do it.

but I would be very uncomfortable with it, and I bet the marshals would too.

T. Finkas · Post by **T. Finkas** » Fri Oct 18, 2002 5:55 pm

You're right, of course. Too dangerous, but an interesting thought nonetheless...