Sonnerie (i)

(Fr.).

(1) A military signal or short march sounded by trumpets (for cavalry) or clairons (for infantry and chasseurs) and restricted to the notes of the harmonic series (usually in the low register, 2nd to 8th partials). The term is opposed to both batterie (a signal or short march sounded by drums) and air. The latter signifies a signal or (more often) march, played either by fifes or oboes, usually with a drum batterie, by clairons, utilizing the 2nd to 6th partials of the harmonic series, or by trompettes d’ordonnance, occasionally ascending to the 12th or 13th partials). Many sonneries and batteries are given in the appendix to G. Kastner: Manuel général de musique militaire (Paris, 1848/R).

(2) In a wider sense, a hunting signal sounded on trompes de chasse.

EDWARD H. TARR