Throughout much of the western world in the 18th and 19th centuries, the sounds of posthorns, bugles, and signal-trumpets were a regular and meaningful part of people’s everyday lives. Indeed, it is unlikely that the average person could have gone a single day without hearing a horn or trumpet call of some kind, as these instruments were used in horse-drawn coach and steamship travel, in religious services and civic ceremonies, for hunting and horse racing, by firefighters, athletic and bicycle clubs, and in military settings.
However, the most familiar and often-heard calls and tunes were those associated with the postal system and the delivery of the mail, and it was here that signal instruments found their fullest musical development and growth. The importance and prevalence of these “post” horns and the music they produced was such that many composers of art music were inspired to incorporate their signals and songs, or adaptations of them, into their compositions.
This recording features the performance of authentic posthorn calls, signals, songs and art music for the posthorn. Performed entirely on original instruments of the 19th century as well as authentic reproductions, the recording is augmented by an excellent and informative booklet with information about this unique, and nearly forgotten part of brass instrument music history.