The Instruments (A Rough Guide)

Soprano Cornet

Developed by Antoine Courtois in the 1870's, the Soprano Cornet is the highest pitched instrument in a Brass Band. Although very similar in appearance to the other Cornets in a brass band, the Soprano Cornet is actually pitched a perfect fourth higher (Eb) than it's counterparts (Bb).

Considered to be the most difficult of all the instruments in a Brass Band to play, the Soprano Cornet is also the smallest of the brass bands instruments, requiring great skill and stamina to maintain it's quality of sound and range.

As the name suggests the Soprano Cornet is usually to be heard playing very high, exposed descants to melodies or covering the Soprano voice in a choir, however in more recent years it is recieving its own recognition as a solo instrument with much more focus being attributed to it in terms of both solo works and also traditional brass band test pieces.

You can easily identify the Soprano Cornet player in a brass band as they are, almost, always the "end chair" nearest to the audience on the back row of the cornet benches.