Mock trumpet.

A term which seems to have been used about 1700 for an undeveloped Chalumeau. The mock trumpet has been confused with the trumpet marine, with which it has no connection. Dart (GSJ, vi, 1953, 35–40) described a book of instructions for playing the mock trumpet, as well as a volume of music, A Variety of new Trumpet Tunes Aires Marches and Minuets (1698) for the instrument. This was clearly the chalumeau before its improvement by Denner; it carried three finger-holes for each hand, one thumb-hole, and had no keys. Such an instrument (now lost) is illustrated as no.221 in the Catalogue of the Royal Military Exhibition (ed. C.R. Day, London, 1890), where its length is said to be 81/4 inches (c23 cm). Its range was g' to g'' and its tone may be assumed to have been strident. The volume described by Dart seems to have been printed in about 1707, but he showed that an earlier edition was printed in 1698. No other music for the chalumeau before its improvement is known.

NICHOLAS SHACKLETON