Young musicians tour Czech churches, bringing the cornett back to life

The historic wind instrument known as the cornett, or zink, once again echoes through Czech churches. Students from across Europe, including young Czechs, are learning to play it under the guidance of expert musicians.

It looks like a curved wooden pipe, with finger holes like on a recorder, but it’s played more like a brass instrument. Back in the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the cornett was everywhere, from church lofts to royal courts. But by the 18th century, it had started to disappear, as newer instruments like the violin became more popular.

A group of students from the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland is now touring Czechia, playing this nearly forgotten instrument in historic spaces. One stop was the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Polná, in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.

Photo: František Jirků, Czech Radio

With its original Baroque organ and authentic interior, it’s the perfect place to learn how this music was meant to be heard. Frithjof Smith, who teaches the instrument at the Swiss school, says practicing in real churches is a crucial part of the learning process.

“So for us in early music performance, we’re often working with very small chamber organs. And for the students in their training, it’s really important to learn how they need to adapt their way of playing the cornett, the trombone, and even singing.

“Whether they should play a little bit shorter, whether their sound carries naturally without trying to fight the organ — not trying to play too loudly. These are things you can only really learn when you’re working in a historical performance context.”

While one student plays, the others listen from the pews and then switch roles. This way, they hear for themselves what works and what doesn’t. Among them is Matyáš Houf, a Czech musician who’s also part of the Swiss school.

“I’ve been playing this instrument for five years. I learnt to play the recorder in London, where there was a cornett specialist, that’s how I got into it. I’d wanted to learn since I was ten, but there weren’t really any opportunities here in Czechia.”

As Matyáš Houf explains, cornett players usually begin on either the recorder or the trumpet.

“Recorder players usually have fast fingers, which helps with tricky passages. Trumpet players are used to playing with a mouthpiece, so they often have better control over the tone.”

Photo: František Jirků, Czech Radio

During their time in Czechia, the students also visited archives in Kroměříž to study original handwritten sheet music. Frithjof Smith this is also an important part of their learning:

“I think it’s really important for students to develop a passion for research, even in the age of the internet. That takes time. It makes a big difference to actually go somewhere and physically see and touch an original manuscript. Even if it’s available online, it’s just not the same experience.

“In German, we have the word begreifen—greifen which means to touch, and begreifen means to understand. It’s how children learn, by touching things. And I think that’s also true for us adults. If we want to really understand historical performance practice, we have to be there, do it, look at the originals, and work with them directly.”