HORN is also a sort of musical instrument of the wind kind; chiefly used in hunting, to animate and bring together the dogs and the hunters. The term anciently was, wind a horn, all horns being in those times compassed; but since straight horns are come in fashion, they say blow a horn, and sometimes found a horn.—There are various lessons on a horn; as the reheat, double reheat, royal reheat, running or farewell reheat, &c. See REHEAT.
The French horn is no other than a wreathed or contorted trumpet. It labours under the same defects as the trumpet itself; but these have of late been so palliated, as to require no particular selection of keys for this instrument. In the beginning of the year 1773, a foreigner, named Spandau, played in a concert at the opera-house a concerto, part whereof was in the key of C, with the minor-third; in the performance of which all the intervals seemed to be as perfect as in any wind-instrument. This improvement was effected by putting his right hand into the bottom or bell of the instrument, and tempering the sounds by the application of his fingers to different parts of the tube.
The Hebrews made use of horns, formed of rams horns, to proclaim the jubilee; whence the name JUBILEE.