Cornet is a brass musical instrument that resembles a shortened trumpet. Cornets and trumpets have the same range, but the cornet has a mellower tone quality. The main part of a cornet is a coiled tube about 41/2 feet (1.4 meters) long. The tube has three valves. Different pitches are produced by vibrating the lips in a cup-shaped mouthpiece. Notes are played by changing the tension of the lips and by pressing the valves.
The cornet developed from a valveless brass instrument called a posthorn. The modern cornet appeared after valves were invented in the early 1800’s. The instrument soon became the main melodic brass instrument in bands. Some composers also wrote cornet parts for symphony orchestras, often in combination with trumpets. Because of its brilliant tone and carrying power, the trumpet has almost completely replaced the cornet in jazz groups, concert bands, and marching bands.
See also Jazz (The brass).
