Horn
locality is unknown, 19th century
beef horn
cutting, cleaning

 

length of the instrument = 38 cm

 

Et 49266
The Collection of Musical Instruments

Description

The horn is a shepherd’s aerophone. After an animal dies or is killed the horn is detached from its head. The inside is scraped and cleaned, and scrubbed using a soft type of grass in order to make it smooth. The ends are cut so there is an opening for blowing the air in. Holes are drilled for playing.

Note

As a musical instrument the horn was used in its original shape and using its original material, just as it was taken off the animal. The horn is accompanied by the belief that it has all the characteristics of the animal it belonged to and this impacts its properties.