The early medieval horns had no mouthpieces, the narrow end being
merely finished with a rim on which the lips rested. The tone suffered
in consequence, being uncertain, rough and tremulous, wherefore it was
indicated by the neume known as _quilisma_: "Est vox tremula; sicut
est sonus flatus tubae vel cornu et designatur per neumam, quae
vocatur _quilisma_."[28]
During the middle ages the bugle-horn or bull's horn was extensively
used as a signal instrument on land and sea (see BUGLE), by the
night-watchmen in cities, in the watch tower of the feudal castle and
by foresters and huntsmen. The hunting-horn was generally represented
as small in the hunting scenes which abound in illuminated MSS. and
early printed books; it was crescent-shaped and was worn slung by a
leather strap over one shoulder and resting on the opposite hip. When
played it was held with the wide end curving upwards in front of the
huntsman's head. A kind of tablature for the horn was in use in France
in the 14th century; an example of it is here reproduced (fig. 2) from
a 14th-century French MS. treatise on venery.[29] Only one note is
indicated, the various calls and signals being based chiefly on
rhythm, and the notes being left to the taste and skill of the
huntsman. The interpretation[30] of the _Cornure de chasse de veue_
seen in the figure is as follows: