Orchestral hand horn
1
Photo by Antonia Reeve © The University of Edinburgh
InstrumentNaturhorn |
Instrument FamilyWind |
MakerJohn Christopher Hofmaster |
Place MadeEngland; Europe; London; United Kingdom |
Date MadeCirca 1760 |
DescriptionOverall size: 498; corpus diameter 290; bell diameter 234. Sounding length: Overall air column length of master crook (3296a) 491; of couplers: (3296b) 313, (3296c) 417, (3296d) 588, (3296e) 1149. Bell wall angle at D=100mm, 25.5. Dia of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. of crook (3296a) 8.3 at end; external taper of crook (3296a) 11.1 12.0. Crook/coupler receiver tapers of couplers (3296b) 12.2 11.2, (3296c) 12.7 11.2, (3296d) 12.3 11.1, (3296e) 12.2 11.1; external tapers of couplers (3296b) 11.0 12.2, (3296c) 11.5 12.4, (3296d) 11.1 12.4, (3296e) 11.1 12.5. Crook/coupler receiver taper on body 12.7 11.5. Technical description: 2½ coils excluding crooks; angle between axis of mouthpipe / crook receiver and axis of bell 142; left handed; brass; bell painted dark brown inside. Single seamed bell with garland, width 36. Coils lapped with red flannel strip. One master crook and 4 couplers (all brass, single coil except (3296e) which is 2 coil). Inscribed on bell garland in raised letters with raised floral decoration "IOHN / CHRISTOPHER HOFMASTER / IN PICCADILLY / LONDON / 17". With fitted wooden case, painted red, probably original. In allocating crooks and couplers between the pair of horns, most complete available selection has been given to (3296), and any duplicates to (3297). The description in Day (1891) indicates possibly that an original master crook for each is missing, and that other pieces have certainly been lost between 1890 and 1985: `PAIR OF FRENCH HORNS. Complete with crooks. This very interesting pair of horns were purchased by Sir Samuel Hellier in 1735 [sic], and are preserved in their original wooden cases. The instruments are, of course, considerably smaller than the horns used in the orchestras of the present day. Their greatest width, measured from the outside across the coils of the tubing, is but 20 inches. The coils of tubing are covered with a strip of felt, wound round, apparently to prevent vibration and to afford an easier grip for the hand. The instruments are, as they stand, in Db, present pitch. The first crook is B, the others Bb, A, and Gb. These four crooks are of the same bore and cylindrical throughout, and a rather large mouthpiece is employed with them. There are also two crooks with a tapering bore, and used with a smaller mouthpiece. They give Bb and Gb. The smaller of these crooks in all its couplings gives Ab, G, Gb, E. The larger gives E, Eb, D, Db. There are some original tuning bits of different sizes. On the bell of each horn is stamped, upon the rim, "IOHN CHRISTOPHER HOFMASTER, IN PICCADILLY, LONDON, 17 ." The last two figures of the date are wanting. Both instruments are in exceedingly good condition, and as specimens of first rate horns of the period are probably unique.' `Lent by Colonel Shaw Hellier.' The red flannel lapping not original. Usable pitch: Plays c 20 cents below A4 = 415 Hz; at this pitch, using crook (3296a), C is obtained with no couplers, Bb with (3296b), A with (3296c), G with (3296c) and (3296d), F# with (3296e), F with (3296b) and (3296c) and (3296d), E with (3296c) and (3296e), Eb with (3296d) and (3296e), D with (3296c) and (3296d) and (3296e). Performance characteristics: Works well with or without hand stopping. With the above crookings, D and Eb are sharp, suggesting that originally there was also a longer master crook. Associated with similar horn (3297) and mute (3298). Specific literature references: Baines 1976, p.158; Day 1891, item 308; Blaikley 1900,item C286; Galpin and Hill 1909, p.202; Simon 1985, item 220. Frew and Myers 2003. Illustration references: Baines 1976, p.158; Borland 1906, Fig. 107 (1,3); Simon 1985, p.241; same picture in Montagu 1979, Pl 37; Dearling 1996, p.36; Historic Brass Society Journal, 2003, 15 p.178; Galpin Society Journal, 2003, LVI p.187. Specific usage history: This pair of Hofmaster horns were in the possession of Sir Samuel Hellier (1736 84) by the time he compiled his A Catalogue of Musicall Instruments that is, probably between January 1768 and February 1770. The Catalogue includes `one pair of concert horns wth Crooks &c Complete in painted boxes by Hofmaster London'. This exactly describes the existing horns and cases. On 11 January 1767 Sir Samuel wrote from London to his agent at his country house (The Wombourne Wodehouse, Staffordshire) that he had bought a `D: Horn', `made in Germany'. This was not exactly what he had hoped to buy, but at the time there were `no London ones(.) they have no time to make them as there's an order from the King ... (for) Trumpets ... However this Horn will Do'. Another horn was posted to the Wodehouse on 15 March 1767. However, these German made french horns did not have the full range of crooks, and on 21 January 1769 he wrote `I have also sent ... crooks + half crooks & shank's(:) one whole crook, one half crook & Three shanks for Each Horn'. He then explained `The whole crook makes the horn in the key of D: the half Crook alone is E. Flatt. Both used together is C + the shanks help out'. Since they could be used together, clearly couplers were meant rather than master crooks. Shortly afterwards, on 23 February 1769, Hellier set out to dispel any myths: `... I don't want you to play all the Horn Key's upon those Horns you've got(.) it is not so intended. There are 4 Kinds of Horns(:) G Horns(,) F Horn's (and) D:Horn's(.) Your's are E. Consequently only safe in D. E. E flatt & C. they are best for learners + most useful(.) wn. they come to Excell Then I will give out my Horns wch are in G & those safe in all other Key's if they play as much as their Present Horns are Capable of I will not grumble.' This description of `E Horns' does not match the surviving Hofmaster horns. Hofmaster died in 1764. It is possible that his name continued to be used by Rodenbostel as his successor, but it is quite possible that Sir Samuel or his father had already purchased these horns in Hofmaster's lifetime. Since the surviving crooks and couplers are all left handed and fit well, they probably always belonged with the Hofmaster horns. With G master crooks (now lost) as well as the surviving C master crooks and with a full set of couplers the Hofmaster horns would have been `safe in all keys'. This suggests that Hellier either already owned the Hofmaster horns but was unwilling to place them in the hands of learners, preferring to give them out when the musicians `came to Excell'. The two horns bought in 1767, not intended for playing `all the Horn Key's', eventually became surplus to requirements and were dispensed with. The Hofmaster horns have continued in the ownership of successive heirs of Sir Samuel Hellier. It is unusual for such a well matched pair of french horns to be both left handed. This could be because Sir Samuel (or other original owner) was content for one or both instruments to be played right handed with the crook socket lying above the main tubing, or because a mirror pair was not available (at a time when makers were fully occupied with trumpets, perhaps). |
Other InformationSpecific usage history: This pair of Hofmaster horns were in the possession of Sir Samuel Hellier (1736-84) by the time he compiled his A Catalogue of Musicall Instruments - that is, probably between January 1768 and February 1770. The Catalogue includes `one pair of concert horns wth Crooks & Complete in painted boxes - by Hofmaster London'. This exactly describes the existing horns and cases. On 11 January 1767 Sir Samuel wrote from London to his agent at his country house (The Wombourne Wodehouse, Staffordshire) that he had bought a `D: Horn', `made in Germany'. This was not exactly what he had hoped to buy, but at the time there were `no London ones(.) they have no time to make them as there's an order from the King ... (for) Trumpets ... However this Horn will Do'. Another horn was posted to the Wodehouse on 15 March 1767. However, these German-made french horns did not have the full range of crooks, and on 21 January 1769 he wrote `I have also sent ... crooks + half crooks & shank's(:) one whole crook, one half crook & Three shanks for Each Horn'. He then explained `The whole crook makes the horn in the key of D: the half Crook alone is E. Flatt. Both used together is C + the shanks help out'. Since they could be used together, clearly couplers were meant rather than master crooks. Shortly afterwards, on 23 February 1769, Hellier set out to dispel any myths: `... I don't want you to play all the Horn Key's upon those Horns you've got(.) it is not so intended. There are 4 Kinds of Horns(:) G Horns(,) F Horn's (and) D Horn's(.) Your's are E. Consequently only safe in D. E. E flatt & C. they are best for learners + most useful(.) wn. they come to Excell Then I will give out my Horns wch are in G & those safe in all other Key's - if they play as much as their Present Horns are Capable of I will not grumble.' This description of `E Horns' does not match the surviving Hofmaster horns. Hofmaster died in 1764. It is possible that his name continued to be used by Rodenbostel as his successor, but it is quite possible that Sir Samuel or his father had already purchased these horns in Hofmaster's lifetime. Since the surviving crooks and couplers are all left-handed and fit well, they probably always belonged with the Hofmaster horns. With G master crooks (now lost) as well as the surviving C master crooks and with a full set of couplers the Hofmaster horns would have been `safe in all keys'.This suggests that Hellier either already owned the Hofmaster horns but was unwilling to place them in the hands of learners, preferring to give them out when the musicians `came to Excell'. The two horns bought in 1767, not intended for playing `all the Horn Key's', eventually became surplus to requirements and were dispensed with. The Hofmaster horns have continued in the ownership of successive heirs of Sir Samuel Hellier. It is unusual for such a well-matched pair of french horns to be both left-handed. This could be because Sir Samuel (or other original owner) was content for one or both instruments to be played right-handed with the crook socket lying above the main tubing, or because a mirror pair was not available (at a time when makers were fully occupied with trumpets, perhaps). |
NotesP. Lewis, 20.12.96; J. Harris, 20.12.95; R. Parks 1.3.93; L. Whitehead 26.4.93. |
Measurements498; corpus diameter 290; bell diameter 234. |
Provenanceon loan to the Collection. |
CollectionShaw-Hellier Collection; MIMEd |
Accession Number3296 |