For centuries, the trumpet was considered an
instrument exclusive to the court, specifically the
property of the ruler of highest rank who was
usually the king. During the Baroque era the art of
trumpet playing evolved to a high level of technical
virtuosity achieved by a select group of players
who maintained their exclusivity through guild
membership. As early as 1623 an Imperial Guild of Court and Field Trumpeters and Court and Army
Kettledrummers was formed in the Holy Roman Empire for the purpose of regulating instruction. This limited
the number of performers, as well as placing restrictions on locations of performance and on who was allowed
to perform. The Elector of Saxony was named as patron of the guild. While other countries outside the empire
did not necessarily maintain comparable guilds as such, trumpet playing enjoyed similar status throughout
Europe