Books › A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments recently exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition, London, 1890 …, 1891 › scan 29
Scan 29
A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments recently exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition, London, 1890 …, 1891
16 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1but in place of the additional hole for the little finger there is a key, which, in its normal position, is open. This key is of ivory, overlaid with carved mother-of-pearl. There is also a thumb-hole at the back. Length 20 1/2 inches, diameter at lip 3/4 inch, at bell 1/2 inch. Stamped "Villars." Of French make, of the latter half of the 18th century. Plate II., fig. B.
3Lent by G. Donaldson, Esq.
59.
7Flute à Colonne, in f'. This curious instrument is made in the form of a column, with a base and a capital. There are six lateral holes and a key upon one side, and a thumb-hole upon the other. The key, which has both left and right handed touch-pieces, works within a perforated brass box in front of the instrument. In this same box is also the vent or bell. The mouthpiece is placed at the side of the capital of the column; the whistle, placed in front just below the capital, is concealed by a box of pierced brass artistically designed. The instrument gives the following fundamental intonations, the key giving g':—
9[Musical notation]
11Height of column 20 1/2 inches, diameter 1 1/6 inch. Marked with a trefoil, but with no maker's name. Probably 16th or early 17th century. Plate IV., fig. F.
13Flutes of this description do not appear to have been mentioned by any of the early writers, such as Praetorius or Mersenne. There are two specimens of larger size, in e'b and b'b, in the Museum of the Paris Conservatoire, and which are described by M. Chouquet in his catalogue. It seems probable that these instruments were made, as a novelty of shape, by some maker to satisfy the caprice of some wealthy amateur of the time. They are, nevertheless, extremely interesting as musical curiosities.
15Lent by the Conservatoire Royal de Musique, Brussels.
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