A wind instrument of great antiquity, much used in war and
military exercises, and of great value in the orchestra. In consists of
a long metallic tube, curved (once or twice) into a convenient shape,
and ending in a bell. Its scale in the lower octaves is limited to the
first natural harmonics; but there are modern trumpets capable, by
means of valves or pistons, of producing every tone within their
compass, although at the expense of the true ringing quality of tone.