El sonido de los metales: el angel músico de la trompeta s. i. Catedral de Valencia, España

Abstract

Musical instruments such as trumpet, tuba and horn were traditionally associated with royal dignity because of their sound and color. Biblical texts contain plenty of references to metallic musical instruments which were used for different purposes: as a signal of war, summoning the assembly, in the context of bereavement, or worship. An excellent illustration are the angels-musicians painted on the vault of the chancel ofthe cathedral in Valencia. There are two angels as heralds, who play on metal trumpets, announcing judgment, which is marked with a gold color of the instruments. These poetic images are used by theology to explain a religious event and explain in this way the Gospel message.