DRUM & BUGLE CORPS. The name say’s it all. However much has changed in that arena over the years. What is the difference between a BUGLE and a TRUMPET? Some would say it means the same thing. However, while a TRUMPET is more Cylindrical in nature a BUGLE is closer to the CORNET family being more Conical in nature. Does that make a difference in the Sound?  And why was a BUGLE originally pitched in the KEY OF G? To answer both of these questions we need to examine the military use of the BUGLE.

The purpose of the BUGLE for military use was to wake up the troops and for signaling of different calls for daily routine and in battle. Obviously they wanted these signals to be heard out in an Open Field. The BUGLES more Conical nature helped to spread the sound rather then the TRUMPETS Cylindrical more piercing sound. Also, placing it in a LOWER KEY like G, which is a minor third lower than Bb, helped in this regard making it LOUDER!!!    ENTER THE DRUM & BUGLE CORPS.

The modern day DRUM & BUGLE CORPS has come a long way from the humble beginings of the no valve BUGLE. In order to make music and not just calls valves needed to be added. The first valve added was horizontal. This lowered the instrument one whole step and added another series of overtones to be played, thus more notes. Then came the horizontal rotor. It was refered to has an F# rotor or allowing the BUGLE to be lowered one half step from the KEY OF G which it was pitched in. You might think of it has having the first two valves on your trumpet. Valve number one and valve number two(the rotor). Now with the different valve combinations you had 4 different sets of overtone series. All that was left was to add the third valve for all seven overtone series and a complete chromatic scale. Now you had all the makings of being able to play any musical piece.  Of course, as all this was going on, the DRUM & BUGLE CORPS was adding more instrumentation such as Baritone, French Horn, Contra Bass, which was also allowing for more music to be made. But keeping it all in the UNIQUE KEY OF G, which again is a minor third lower than Bb and therefore—LOUDER!!!

ENTER MARCHING BRASS. As the development of the modern DRUM & BUGLE CORPS was happening another development was happening right along side of it. BELL FRONT marching band instruments pitched in the band key’s of Bb and F. These were originally created by my father, Zigmant Kanstul at the F.E. OLDS & SON BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY. Little did my father realize at the time the major effect his creation would have on the DRUM & BUGLE CORPS movement.

KANSTUL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS offers the most complete line of CUSTOM MARCHING BRASS in the World. And KANSTUL MUSIC offers this line exclusively to the MARCHING BAND COMMUNITY. Give me, Jack Kanstul, a call for knowledgable answers to your questions. I was raised in the activity and can help you in your selection of the right instrumentation. We offer Financing and Timely Delivery of all Kanstul Instruments.

To The Music,

Jack Kanstul

Tags: Bugles, Instruments, Kanstul news, Marching Brass, Trumpets

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 27th, 2008 at 10:58 pm and is filed under Bugles, Instruments, Kanstul news, Marching Brass, Trumpets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.