Jeremy Montagu has published an e-book, The Conch Horn, and posted a free pdf version of it on his website www.jeremymontagu.co.uk. This study is a well-illustrated survey of shell trumpets across the world, from palaeolithic to the present day. It examines their history, species and use in ritual and in day-to-day activities for signaling and other purposes. The book is comprised of 6 chapters and an extensive bibliography. Geographic areas in which conch horns are examined include; Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, India, Asia, South-East Asia, Islands of the Pacific and the Americas. It is surely the most extensive study of shell trumpets ever conducted.

The Associação Nacional de Instrumentos Musicais (Portuguese National Association for Musical Instruments) has announced their 7th International Congress, to be held July 4-7, 2018 in Caldas da Rainha. The theme this year is "Beyond the Broad Coast Horizon: Diversity and Transversality in Cultural Heritage." The conference is being organized in conjuncton with The Historic Brass Society this year, and a "Brass Focus" section will be held under the direction of Arnold Myers (University of Edinburg). Those interested in attending should click here for more information. Click here if you are interested in submitting a proposal to present at the conference. The proposal deadline is March 15.

The 7th Indiana Sackbut Workshop, held May 22-27, 2018 in Morgantown, will focus on the music of Great Britain, which developed along a trajectory unique from that of music on the continent. We will spend time with compositions from the second half of the 15th century that were influential on the continent, then works from the musically vibrant reigns of King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. With the goal of putting ourselves in the shoes of a town wait, hours of small-ensemble playing will be accompanied by sessions on solmization and mode, improvisation, and developing an overall understanding for the musical language, which includes reading from original manuscripts and printed sources. Without anyone being left feeling too out of their element, we want all participants to challenge themselves at an appropriate level, so modern editions of all the music will also be provided.