Mute for horn

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Instrument

Mute/Horns/Wind/Musical Instrument ; Mute

Instrument Family

Wind

Date Made

Mid 18th Century

Description

Technical description: Black leather cylinder with one end flat and the other domed. The flat end is overlapped by the side to 3mm, a longitudinal stitched seam extends along one side and over the domed end to a distance of 4mm down the other side. The flat end has a 15mm diameter central opening and two 5mm holes each equidistant between the central opening and the rim. With the domed end inserted into the horn, the mute transposes the instrument a semitone up on medium crook lengths, as with standard full stopping.With the flat perforated end inserted, light muting without change of pitch is obtained for high and medium crookings. Performance characteristics: It may well be that this was used only in the transposing position since small perforations in the flat end suggests means of inserting a cord to enable mute to be suspended from the player's wrist. Although the two small hole suggest use of a suspending cord, the use of the mute with the flat end inserted gives excellent muting without transposition and it is therefore possible it was used in this way. No inscriptions. Repair History: The flat end is now slightly concave. Associated with horns (3296) and (3297), probably original. Specific literature references: Baines 1976, p.162; Simon 1985, item 220. Illustration references: Simon 1985, p.241; same picture in Montagu 1979, Pl 37.

Notes

P. Lewis 20.12.96; J. Harris 20.12.95; R. Parks.

Measurements

length 130, diameter 75.

Provenance

on loan to the Collection.

Collection

MIMEd ; Shaw-Hellier Collection

Accession Number

3298

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