Horns, horns, horns
 

Researching musical instruments in Middle-earth has brought up interesting references and comparisons. I haven't yet counted, but it seems to me that horns are among the most frequently mentioned instruments - not always in the context of musical performance, often used as signal instruments. I'd like to discuss the instruments, occasions, players, etc. Which races play the horn, which individuals? Of what materials are they made, if mentioned?

I'll start with the very beginning ('...a very good place to start...' ;) ): two of the Valar have and play (a) horn(s). (The only other instruments mentioned in direct connection with the Valar are the trumpets of Manwë.) Ulmo's horns are made of white shell, specified as conches, and are named the Ulumúri. He is said to be the one Valar most deeply instructed in music, and even only one note played by him can awaken a sea longing and bring visions, as we are told in the story of Tuor. I would imagine that this kind of playing could be interpreted as performance of music - with various sizes of shells, it would be possible to play a melody.

The other Valar horn is called Valaróma, the horn of Oromë, the hunter. (His name even means "horn-blowing" in Quenya, according to Foster's Guide.) His horn is spoken of as a signal instrument in connection with hunting and has the effect of chasing evil enemies away with its blowing. The sound is described as being like scarlet sunrise or lightning - not necessarily melodic, though nothing mre than that is said about the nature of its music.


Which uses of horns occur to you? The title of this thread gives a rather obvious hint, of course...

The Horn of Gondor, of course, needs a mention but I have not the time to do it justice...

Aside from the horn of Boromir and the horns of Rohan, and Helm's horn, what comes most strongly to my mind is not just the horn that was given to Merry by Eowyn (which also seemed to have that quality of summoning friends and striking fear into the hearts of the enemy), but the fact that there was the "horn call of Buckland." Fear, fire, foes! Awake, awake, awake! Gives one the impression that the foes mentioned were skulking nasties that came about in the middle of the night. :) When I composed my symphony inspired by The Fellowship of the Ring, I wanted to open the section of the first movement that was to be Merry's theme with my version of the horn call of Buckland, and it took I don't know how many failed attempts before I finally came up with notes I found acceptable (unfortunately, at the time, I had a rather poor synthesized MIDI orchestra, which had an abysmal horn sound, and now, even though my sampled instrument orchestra is much better, I haven't had the time and energy to sit down, rescore, and rerecord that movement -- yet. I'll get to it. :))

Who was it that siezed his herald's horn and blew such a blast on it that it burst asunder? I think it was Theoden.

Elves had trumpets, didn't they? (Or am I mixing up COrwin's parent's horn in THe Horse and His Boy...)

The balrog of Moria of course had a horn....or, no, wait, was it simply a vast shadow that filled the cavern "like" a horn???? Or was it a horn that didn't actually work, the balrog just carried it around for show....(?)

(Maybe it was just an harmonica.)

Ar Pharazon blew either horns or trumpets (I always get them mixed up :rolleyes:) when he went to war against Valinor.
Fingolfin blew his horns/trumpets when he started the march over Helcaraxe, and when he came in sight of Thangorodrim. He also blew his horn/trumpet when he challenged Morgoth.
Horns/trumpets were used in almost all battles. The one that specifically jumps to my mind is Helm's horn, which was blown at dawn at the battle in Helm's Deep. Also, in my head Nirnaeth Arnoediad is linked with trumpets/horns, because Turgon blows them before he goes to battle to help Fingon, and Fingon hears them, etc (we know the story). In the War of Wrath, I think it says something like "the sound of the trupets of Eonwe filled the land". And when the Rohirrim reach Minas Tirith they blow horns.
I find it interesting how Boromir wants to begin the mission of the Fellowship with blowing his horn...
At the moment I can think of two other musical instruments that are used: drums and harps. Drums are used by the Druedain to send signals, and I think drums were used by the Mordor army when they attacked Minas Tirith. I think the Rivendell menestrels accompany themselves on harps, but I don't know for certain. Finrod plays a harp when he first met Beor and his people; Thorin plays a harp in Bag-End.
And speaking of Thorin, his Co. has a few other instruments that I can't remember. I think there were fiddles and flutes, but I'm not sure.