Books › A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments recently exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition, London, 1890 …, 1891 › scan 79
Scan 79
A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments recently exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition, London, 1890 …, 1891
24 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. Printed page 59. See the scan on archive.org.
1The drone, called Bourdon, consists of an ivory cylinder pierced with a series of channels of very small diameter, parallel to its axis. These channels are arranged by threes and twos, so as to form four or five separate single tubes of the proper length for the sound to be produced. The channels open by means of longitudinal slits upon the circumference of the cylinder; they are tuned to the required length by means of sliders, termed technically "layettes." The drones are usually tuned as follows:
3[Musical notation]
5or
7[Musical notation]
9It is interesting to note that the reeds, both chanter and drone, are double. This association of a cylindrical bore and double reed would be hardly possible were it not that the bore is singularly small, being only about 1/6th of an inch. As cylindrical tubes, thus employed, speak as closed pipes, the depth of the pitch can be thus accounted for. Plate IX., fig. F.
11Lent by the Conservatoire Royal de Musique, Brussels.
13127.
15Pastoral Bagpipe, French. 17th century. There is one drone only, tuned to the lowest hole of the chanter uncovered. The bag is inflated by the mouth, and when in use is held on the left breast.
17Lent by Messrs. J. and R. Glen.
19128.
21Musette, French. 17th century. This instrument is very similar to that previously described, and appears to be of much the same date. The barrel and chanters are of ebony, with ivory tips most artistically worked. The bag is covered with yellow silk brocade and fringed with gold lace. The "Grand Chalumeau" is fitted with five keys only, the "Petit Chalumeau" with six. The barrel has no less than thirteen sliders, and is apparently made to hold six instead of five reeds.
23Lent by C. Van Raalte, Esq.
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