The evolution of the mutes for brass instruments (from Ancient Egypt to present)

The influence of mutes on the sound palette of instruments is very significant: they are able to create sounds of various timbres, which are used both in academic and pop jazz music. This device, which is necessary for a modern performer, has gone a long way to improve in accordance with the changes in the design of musical instruments and the technique of playing them. Therefore, the study of the evolution of mutes sheds light on the specifics of the development of wind performing. Despite the availability of some scientific information, the history of mutes still remains an area for discussions. The article traces the evolution of mutes for brass instruments from the beginning to the present day, and their varieties are singled out and described. Asystematic approach to revealing the topic made it possible to consider the main stages of the history of mutes and the directions of their use by musicians of the past. Analysis of documentary and scientific sources, comparison and generalization of information contributed to the rebuilding of an holistic panorama of the historical evolution of the mutes, which, together with their consistent descriptionclassification, was an innovative research task. It is resumed that mutes, which belong to non-traditional means of expression, have been used for a long time: their first samples were found during the excavations of Tutankhamen’s tomb in Ancient Egypt. Since then, each century demonstrates the constant presence of this device, first in ritual-religious and military actions, and later in the artistic environment. Historically, the first ones, according to preserved evidences, were mutes for trumpets. Popularity of mutes grew along with the need for a variety of timbre colors, due to the emergence of new stylistic trends and individual compositional solutions. With the improvement of the performance technique on brass instruments, the mutes included to the pedagogical process as the devices for strengthening the performance apparatus. Finally, today there is a need to ensure comfort of both the musician and his environment during the long classes of the concert performer and the brass student. Evolution of the mute led to the emergence of a significant number of its modern types, designed to create various sound effects, so the article contains an overview of those varieties that have gained authority among performers and composers. Discovery of new archival documents, corrections to the interpretation of the already known ones, as well as new archaeological finds are constantly clarifying the understanding of the history of mutes, and the process of developing new varieties of them is in constant motion. So, the topic of this research remains open.