Basset horn. Nominal pitch: F.

Georg Ottensteiner

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Instrument

Basset horn

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Georg Ottensteiner

Place Made

Central Europe ; Europe ; Munich ; Germany

Date Made

c 1860-1879

Description

Technical description: stained boxwood with german silver ferrules and keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, lower section, bell. Ebonite mouthpiece with a ligature and a long table not grooved for cord. Curved wooden barrel with two german silver ferrules. Upper section: straight speaker, liner projects almost into the centre of bore. Spectacle on L1 and L3 with vents to improve forked B♭. Plate on L2 to improve "forked" top C. Lower tenon filled with a metal tube, fitted to the tone-hole for R1, probably to extend the instrument for about 2mm for intonation. Lower section: four levers for R0 extending the compass chromatically down to written C₃. Spectacles to improve forked B♭/F♮. Hinge key for F/C. Ring for strap may be also used as thumb rest. Straight continuous german silver bell with a wide rim. L0: T; speaker. L1: T + spectacle + vent; throat A♮; throat A♭. L2: Plate + vents, corresponding with spectacle. L3: T + spectacle; cross E♭/B♭. L4: C♯/G♯; E/B♮; F♯/C♯; additional lever for G♯/E♭. R0: basset C; C♯; D; D♯. R1: T; side F/ C; side E♭/B♭; side trill for throat A-B♮ and B♭-C. R2: T + spectacle. R3: T + spectacle; B♭/F♮. R4: hinge key F/C; G♯/E♭. Keymount type: pillars. Keyhead type: modern. Overall size: 960 to top of barrel. Bore: at C₄ hole 15.0. Barrel stamped with "OTTENSTEINER / A MÜNCHEN"; upper and lower section stamped with "OTTENSTEINER / A MÜNCHEN / F"; bell engraved: "OTTENSTEINER K: HOF. INSTRUMENT: FABRIK. A: MÜNCHEN." Mouthpiece stamped "S.A. CHAPPELL"; ligature "BOOSEY & CO. LONDON / REG. 309806". With case. Repair History: Mouthpiece is a replacement. Specific literature references: Myers 2002; Axtens 2002; Axtens 2005. Illustration references: Myers 2002; Axtens 2005. Georg Ottensteiner worked with the famous clarinettist Carl Baermann to improve the Müller and Pentenrieder system. Baermann's important tutor is based on upon the new system. Mendelssohn in 1833 wrote two concert pieces for clarinet, basset horn and piano forte dedicated to father and son Baermann. Brahms's clarinettist, Richard Mühlfeld, also played Ottensteiner instruments.

Notes

H. Fricke, July 2005.

Measurements

960 to top of barrel.

Provenance

bought by the donor from by E.R. Shepheard; before that owned by Hiram Lear, before that by Roughton Henry Whall (clarinettist and teacher); originally owned by Mr E.W. Whinfield of Seven Grange. ; Gift of Robert Axtens.

Collection

MIMEd

Accession Number

4112

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