Slide Trumpet in E 1881 - 1890

This is a slide trumpet in E, crafted by Köhler & Son. Though seemingly a simple instrument, it sings of a deeper narrative—of cultural memory and transformation. Notice the trumpet's form, it is not too dissimilar to the Roman tuba, an instrument used in civic and military functions. This trumpet, like its ancestors, speaks of pronouncements and proclamations, heralding change and bearing witness. Throughout the ages, trumpets have sounded calls to arms and have announced the arrival of royalty, with each note echoing the weight of tradition. Think, for example, of the trumpets in religious ceremonies. They evoke a sense of awe and transcendence in the viewer, linking the earthly and the divine through ritualistic expression. The resonance of this instrument stirs something within us—a primal connection to moments of communal gathering and transformation. These moments of shared experience are a thread through history.