Slupskyi V. Formation and Development of the Ensemble of Brass Wind Instruments from its Origins to the End of the 17th Century

The dissertation sheds light on the history of ensemble performance on brass wind instruments from its origins to the end of the 17th century. The author examines the main periods of the development of brass wind ensembles during the Ancient World, Middle Ages, and Early Baroque. The origins of the ensemble of brass wind instruments at the early stages of brass performance were closely connected with their use in military, state ceremonial and everyday spheres to complete certain formal, ritual and representative functions. Ensembles of brass wind instruments, as one of the forms of music, begin to develop in separate genres of musical culture in Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. The ensemble performing becomes more dynamic in the era of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance; it was greatly facilitated by the formation of guilds and fraternities of instrumentalist musicians in Italy, Austria, Germany and other Western European countries. Various types of ensembles are actively developed in their environment, its musicians, thanks to their multi-instrumental practice and experience, were not limited in the choice of instruments. The entire process of the formation and development of ensemble performance on brass wind instruments from its birth up to Early Baroque testifies to the close relationship between historical, socio-economic, cultural processes with the evolution of instrumentation, performing practice, musical aesthetic views and composer creativity characteristic of each era and the relevant time period.