Historical trumpets have been found dating back 4,000 years. In the past, trumpets were straight tubes. The modern folded trumpet was developed in the 15th Century. Modern trumpets are brass horns that have three valves and, when used in classical music, are usually tuned to B-flat. They can reach three octaves above their basic B-flat. The Canadian Brass features two trumpet players. The trumpet is the highest pitched instrument in the ensemble. The sounds of the trumpet, like those in any other brass instrument played by the Canadian Brass, is created by the performer's lips vibrating in the mouthpiece.
The horn, often called the French horn, is one of the longest horns in the Canadian brass. At 17 feet, the only longer horn in the Canadian Brass is the tuba. The horn evolved in the 18th Century, and moved from continental Europe to England about this time, resulting in it being called the French horn. French horns have three valves and are available in a number of base pitches. The modern horn is often based on F, but some horns are also B-flat.
The trombone was developed as a variation on the medieval trumpet. This variation added a U-shaped slide that is used to create and control chromatic tones of the instrument. At nearly 9 feet long, a common design base pitch of the trombone is B-flat. The slide in the trombone lengthens or shortens the tubing to allow for a lowering of the pitch being played. Although many trombones are B-flat, there are instruments available tuned to different notes and ranges.
The lowest tones by the Canadian Brass ensemble are produced by the tuba. The term refers to a family of brass instruments tuned to a variety of bass notes, including F, E-flat, C and B-Flat. A tuba is a tri-valve instrument that was developed as a result of horn and musical experimentation during the 19th Century. The tuba is played vertically, with the bell of the instrument facing upward. Although the length of the instruments can vary, a bass tuba is often 13.75 feet long.