Piccolo, nominal pitch: C
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InstrumentPiccolo flute/Flutes/Wind/Musical Instrument ; Piccolo flute |
Instrument FamilyWind |
MakerGautrot aîné |
Place MadeParis ; Europe ; France ; Western Europe |
Date Made1849-1885 |
DescriptionBoxwood piccolo in 3 sections with 5 German silver keys (cylinder cup keyheads) and 5 ivory ferrules at the joints (1 cracked). The distance between the oval embouchure-hole and cap is unusually long (61mm) with a sounding length (embouchure to end) of 256mm giving an overall length of 317mm. An elegant instrument in fine condition overall. The firm of Gautrot aîné was based in Paris and by 1846 claimed to be the most important factory of its kind in Europe, and the first to use steam power, producing mainly brass instruments (cornets, trombones and ophicleides). In 1875, the trade names of ‘Gautot-Marquet’ and ‘Gautrot aîné’ were registered to designate ‘1er choix’ and ‘2me choix’ instruments respectively. For many years, the firm was involved in disputes over patents with the Adolphe Sax (of saxophone fame). The name ‘Préalle & Co. Pernambuco’ stamped on the boxwood below the maker’s name presumably relates to the French (?) company that sold the flute, although Pernambuco is a province in Brazil! Brazilian Pernambuco wood is dense and orange-red, and is the most frequently used wood for making bows for string instruments ¬- but never flutes. Technical description: Boxwood; 3 sections (head, tuning-slide section, body); german silver keys and plate in cap; 5 ivory ferrules; tuning-slide; oval embouchure-hole; unusually long between embouchure-hole and cap. L0: B♭. L1: T. L2: T. L3: T. L4: G♯. R1: T; C. R2: T. R3: T; F. R4: D♯. Keymount type: rod/pillar. Keyhead type: cylinder cup. Performance characteristics: Range D⁴ - G⁶ (sounding D⁵ - G⁷). Does not speak easily. Usable pitch: Sounding A⁴ c 445 Hz. |
NotesE. Smith, 1986; private correspondence with William Waterhouse 3.6.99. |
Measurements321. |
CollectionMIMEd ; Rendall Collection |
Accession Number0002 |