The lost sound of the Karnyx

The “Karnyx of Sanzeno Project” presents a new, crucial landmark, taking place at Casa de Gentili in Sanzeno in Val di Non on Saturday 1 September at 17.00. After the presentation of the karnyx there, its brass replica will be exhibited at the Museo Retico. 

The curious Celtic war trumpet was found in Sanzeno two thousand years ago, and this is a special opportunity to listen to its lost sound and to pieces which have been composed specifically for it. 

From weapon used by the Celts to frighten their enemies, to musical instrument to recall lost sounds: after two thousand years' silence, the karnyx of Sanzeno regains its sound thanks to a special project.

This story begins in the fifties of the last century, when, during excavations, archaeologist Giulia Fogolari unearthed some tubes and a bronze foil whose function has remained unknown for almost sixty years. 

Then, archaeologist Rosa Roncador found an analogy with the karnykes found in France at Tintignac.

But what's a karnyx? The karnyx is a war trumpet (about two metres long, held in vertical position), a real psychological weapon: the harsh sound it produced was accompanied by the cries of the warriors and the noise of chariots - as Greek historian Polibio recounts - and created such a frightening atmosphere. It ended in an animal's head - of a wild boar or a snake.

The presence of two relics of this kind in the Alps refers to the complex relationships between the Raeti and the Celts, which have been studied in a new light in the last few years.

The karnykes are rare and precious finds, which today are known only in few archaeological sites in Europe: in Mandeure (Doubs) and in Soulac-sur-Mer et Ilonse (France), LaTène (Switzerland), Leisach (Austria), Kappel and Abentheuer (Germany), Castiglione delle Stiviere (Italy), Săliştea (Romania) and Deskford (Scotland).

The Cultural Heritage Directorate of the Autonomous Province of Trento started a multidisciplinary research project in 2008 to study the karnykes of Sanzeno, and it also carried out the brass replica of this instrument which is on display at the Museo Retico.

Thanks to the collaboration with the Bonporti Conservatory of Trento, the karnyx has become a contemporary instrument, no longer used in war or for peaceful cerimonies, but just as a real "horn" to perform new, unprecedented pieces for.

“Karnyx of Sanzeno Project” - partners: Archaeological Heritage Office of the Department for Cultural Heritage of the Autonomous Province of Trento (Paolo Bellintani and Elena Silvestri), Cultural association Alteritas - section in Trentino (Rosa Roncador), University of Genoa (Paolo Piccardo), Bonporti Conservatory of Trento (Ivano Ascari), Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France - C2RMF (Benoit Mille), Fucina Ervas (Alessandro Ervas) and DecimaRosa Video (Elena Alessia Negriolli and Aurelio Laino).

The brass replica of the Karnyx of Sanzeno was carried out with the suppport of the municipality of Sanzeno, the Comunità della Val di Non, the bank Cassa Rurale Val di Non, and the Cultural activities Office of the Autonomous Province of Trento.