Books › A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments recently exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition, London, 1890 …, 1891 › scan 85
Scan 85
A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments recently exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition, London, 1890 …, 1891
10 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. Printed page 65. See the scan on archive.org.
1to note that contrivances of a somewhat similar kind are found in the primitive oboes of China, India, and Arabia. The reeds were usually wider and shorter than is now the case, and it was not until the 16th century, when instruments of this family were adopted into the orchestra, that the construction of the reed became the subject of serious study; and the delicate reed of the present day offers a curious contrast even to the reed of the last century.
3In the 12th and following centuries the double reed was frequently placed within a box, and the lips were therefore unable to control its vibrations. One family of instruments thus sounded was usually known by the name of cromorne or tournebout from the fact of the lower end being turned vertically upwards. As, however, a cylindrical bore was applied to them, they will be noticed more particularly in a subsequent place. The Hautbois de Poitou, of conical bore, of which Mersenne speaks, were sounded in a very similar manner. There was a complete family of them; they differed from the ordinary schalmeys merely in the construction of the reed, and by the coarseness of their tone. They were chiefly used as out-of-door instruments, the bass being supplied by a cornemuse or species of bagpipe.
5As was the custom during the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries, instruments with double reeds were constructed in various sizes so as to form a complete family. An instrument called schalmei, (or bombart when of larger size than the schalmei) is mentioned by Virdung (Musica Getutscht, 1511), and again by Luscinius, who translates Virdung's text and reproduces his engravings. From these it would appear that the schalmei and bombart were pierced with five or six open finger-holes, and that the existence of the double finger-hole near the bell was even in those early days common. In the bombarts there was a key, working within a wooden envelope, and by which the compass of the instrument could be extended downwards.
7These instruments do not seem to have undergone many changes, for Praetorius, writing in 1616, gives a minute description of the whole family. It consisted of—
9(i.) The little schalmey, which measured some 17 inches in length, and of which the lowest note was a'. It was used but rarely.
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