Virtual Tour of Muzika! A Celebration of Czech and Slovak Music Keyed Trumpet by Eduard Johann Bauer, Prague, late 1830s NMM 10525. Keyed trumpet by Eduard Johann Bauer, Prague, late 1830s. Held horizontally, with the five keys played with the left hand. Keyed trumpets were a short-lived invention to try and play all the notes of the scale, which could not be done with natural trumpets, which depended on the harmonic series. They were soon made obsolete, however, by the invention of valves, which is why keyed trumpts are so rare. Eduard Johann Bauer (1811-1871) received his license as a brass instrument maker in 1836. He took over the workshop of his father, who had built at least one five-keyed trumpet, preserved in Kraslice. Joe R. and Joella F. Utley Collection, 2003. The trumpet's five closed keys have flat round heads and pivot in rectangular brass saddles with leaf springs. According to contemporary tutors, the keys, beginning with the one nearest the bell, serve the following notes: 1) g-sharp (little finger); 2) a (ring finger); 3) b-flat (index finger); 4) b-natural (index finger); and, 5) f2 (middle finger). Signature Engraved on Bell Garland This relatively late example might have been used in a military band, and is stamped on the garland, K K befugte Instr: Fabrik [double eagle] des Ed. Joh. Bauer in Prag (Royal imperial privileged instrument manufacture of Ed. Joh. Bauer in Prague). The garland ends in a typical Bohemian bell rim, which is hollow with impressed diagonal hatching, rather than having a wire insert. Second half of signature stamp: [double eagle] des Ed. Joh. Bauer in Prag. Translation: of Eduard Johann Bauer in Prague.   Click arrow to continue Virtual Tour of Muzika! A Celebration of Czech and Slovak Music Go to Muzika Exhibition Virtual Tour Index Go to Virtual Gallery Tour Index Go to Annotated Checklist of Keyed Trumpets in the Joe R. and Joella F. Utley Collection of Brass Instruments National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069 ©National Music Museum, 2004-2013 Most recent update: December 7, 2013 The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page