Natural horn
"Cor Solo", Raoux, Paris, 1797 | |
| Classification | Brass instrument |
|---|---|
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 423.1 |
The natural horn is a musical instrument that is the predecessor to the modern-day French horn, differentiated by its lack of valves. Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the natural horn evolved as a separation from the trumpet by widening of the bell and lengthening of the tubes. It consists of a mouthpiece, long coiled tubing, and a large flared bell. This instrument was used extensively until the emergence of the valved horn in the early 19th century.