Signals intended to transmit information, commands or encouragement to an army during battle or in camp, to a navy during engagement or on voyage, and to royal and noble households at court and on tour, and also employed to embellish ceremonial occasions. Military calls are played on various musical instruments, including trumpets, bugles, flutes, drums and kettledrums, and are usually, but not exclusively, performed monophonically.
For discussion of various types of military call, see Chiamata; Military music; Sennet; Signal (i); Sonnerie (i), (1); Tuck, tucket.
PETER DOWNEY