Fanfare
Signal-like piece for brass, mostly on notes of the triad.
What it means
The fanfare is a short, signal-like piece of music for brass, usually trumpets, also horns and trombones. It is built mainly from notes of the triad and is marked by dotted, energetic rhythms and a bright, far-carrying sound.
Musical use
The fanfare originates in signals of the hunt, military, and court blown on natural instruments. Since natural trumpets and hunting horns can only produce the notes of the harmonic series, the typical triad melodies arose almost by themselves. Later the fanfare found its way into opera, orchestral works, and film music to announce entrances, create solemnity, or mark a turning point. Well known is Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man of 1942.
The fanfare should be distinguished from a plain signal, which only conveys a message, and from the march, which sets a steady walking tempo. “Fanfare” also sometimes denotes a brass band, especially in French- and Dutch-speaking areas.
Performance practice
Play a fanfare with a clear, energetic attack and precise note lengths; dotted rhythms should sound sharp but not hard. In an ensemble, watch for simultaneous entry and shared articulation, since in such short pieces any untidiness is noticed at once.