A small brass instrument, originally with a fundamental about b ♭′, used in the past by postillions and guards on mail coaches. In Germany it reached its standard form, circular and with three turns, in the late 18th century. As it graduated to use in concert music it acquired crooks, keys and finally valves. Telemann and Bach imitated it. Mozart, Beethoven and Mahler actually wrote for it. The English instrument, long and straight, in A or A♭, is still made; it is used in performances of Koenig's famous Post Horn Galop (1844).

The post horn (also posthorn, post-horn, or coach horn) is a valveless cylindrical brass or copper instrument with cupped mouthpiece, used to signal the arrival or departure of a post rider or mail coach. It was used especially by postilions of the 18th and 19th centuries.
The instrument commonly had a circular or coiled shape with three turns of the tubing, though sometimes it was straight. It is therefore an example of a natural horn. The cornet was developed from the post horn by adding valves.[1]
Mozart, Mahler, and others incorporated the instrument into their orchestras for certain pieces. On such occasions, the orchestra's horn player usually plays the instrument. One example of post horn use in modern classical music is the famous off-stage solo in Mahler's Third Symphony. Due to the scarcity of this instrument, however, music written for it is usually played on a trumpet or flugelhorn.
In 1844, the German cornet player Hermann Koenig wrote Post Horn Galop (Post Horn Gallop) as a solo for post horn with orchestral accompaniment.[2] In the 20th century it became a popular piece for brass bands.[3] During World War I wooden post-horns were used as a means of collecting war donations via a method called the Nail Men. People would donate and in exchange be allowed to hammer a nail into the horn, until the horn was completely covered.
The instrument is still used as the logo of national post services in many countries.
|
Contents
|
|
|
This article requires expansion. More information might be found in a section of the talk page. (August 2009) |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)