Medieval cornets represent one of the most evocative chapters in European organology. Their unmistakable timbre—closer to the human voice than to the modern trumpet—and their simultaneous presence in churches, armies, and court festivities gave them a uniquely transversal function, turning these woodwind aerophones into a sonic emblem of an entire historical period.
Below you will find their most well-known types and their role within the social fabric of the Middle Ages.
Types of Cornets
In the Middle Ages, cornets were woodwind instruments, not brass like modern cornets, although they could be seen covered in leather.
Its shape was conical, with a tube that gradually widened from the mouthpiece (which, unlike trumpets, is deeper, resulting in a deeper, darker sound) to the bell.
Its sound was also very particular, often described as similar to that of a human voice or an oboe, and could be both powerful and soft.
Among them there were mainly two types:
- Curved cornet (Cornetto)
This is the best-known instrument and is characterized by its curved shape. It can be made of wood covered in leather (usually black, giving it the name "black horn") or uncovered.
They had six or seven finger holes, similar to those of a recorder, and a mouthpiece usually made of horn or ivory (or later of metal, as in brass instruments).
Its sound, described as "clear" and "sweet", was appreciated in religious and popular music, often accompanying voices or instruments such as the trombone.
- Straight cornet (Natural cornet, military band cornet, etc.)
It includes cornets that lack the characteristic curvature of the cornetto, resembling more a clarinet or a trumpet, with a straight or slightly curved tube, made of simple wood or covered with leather or, later, metal, and normally with an octagonal, cup-shaped mouthpiece, cut in the style of the trumpet.
They were used in military, ceremonial, and marching contexts, often accompanied by drums. They were also frequently used in church music.
They had no valves and different notes were produced using the embouchure technique.
There were also:
- Zinc Horn
Popular between 1500 and 1650. Usually made of wood covered with leather, it had six holes at the front and one at the back, allowing a diatonic scale to be played. The fingers were positioned just like on a flute.
Curved in shape, with a mouthpiece often carved into the instrument, it could achieve sounds as loud as those of a trumpet or soft enough to combine with flutes.
Its use was popular in churches, courts and popular bands, as well as in dance music and domestic music.
- Horn
It's impossible not to mention one of the simplest and oldest types of wind instruments, and the one that served as inspiration for the rest of the cornets. It is a hollow animal horn, with a pierced tip so that one can blow through it. In most cases, the lips are placed directly on the tip.
They were classified according to their size and sound into:
- Cornetino: A smaller type of curved cornet, used for higher notes.
- Tenor cornet: A type of curved cornet intermediate in size between the cornet and the bass cornet.
- Serpentón (Bass Cornet): A very curved, large version of the cornet, used as a bass in ensembles.
Cultural and symbolic significance, uses and functions of medieval cornets
Medieval cornets played multiple roles beyond the musical sphere.
In civic and religious ceremonies, they marked transitions and key moments, functioning as instruments of announcement and solemnity, and their evocative timbre made them ideal for representing institutional authority, both at court and in the streets. Furthermore, in the military context, their use was strategic: they transmitted coded signals that guided troop movements and established order in formations.
They were also part of the welcoming protocol for important figures, reinforcing the hierarchical structure.
During festivities, they added character to parades, performances and dances, integrating with other forms of collective expression.
Their construction with noble materials gave them prestige, and their association with ceremony gave them a lasting symbolic value.
Thus, cornets actively contributed to shaping the soundscape and ritual of the Middle Ages, embodying both practical and representative functions in the cultural fabric of the period.
The Cornets as an inseparable symbol of the Middle Ages
Medieval cornets encapsulate the sonic essence of their time: an instrument powerful enough to guide military formations and, at the same time, flexible enough to enhance liturgical polyphony or enliven urban celebrations.
Their dual technical and symbolic dimension explains the attention they received from kings, clerics, and chroniclers, as well as their survival in later treaties and repertoires. Studying them today allows us to better understand the musical sophistication of the Middle Ages and the acoustic legacy that world left to European instrumental tradition.
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