Clarinet d'Amore. Nominal pitch: F.
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InstrumentClarinette d'amour |
Instrument FamilyWind |
MakerCramer & Son |
Place MadeEngland ; London ; Europe ; United Kingdom |
Date MadeCirca 1810 |
DescriptionTechnical description: Stained boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, crook, upper section, lower section, bell. Mouthpiece: socket type. Table extends to ferrule, made for ligature. Brass crook with tenon, curved through c 30° with flange to each tenon. Upper section straight, no definite socket but seems bell-mouthed to accept crook. Two keys (side F/C and side throat A♭) mounted in saddles. Straight speaker; speaker liner projects c 3mm into bore). Lower section straight, with ring for sling at rear. Wide ivory ferrule, no thumb rest. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a bell-shaped swelling. Lower section has pillar for a sling ring. Bell pear-shaped (Liebesfus*s), maximum width c 885. Ferrules half-round on lower section and bell, simple on upper section. Keys, of normal pattern but larger, zig-zag shanks to trill and long C♯ keys, long-tailed straight key for E♭. L0: T; speaker. L1: T; A♮. L2: T; A♭. L3: T; E♭/B♭. L4: C♯/G♯; E/B♮ bascule; F♯/C♯. R1: T; A♮/B♮ trill; F/C♮. R2: T; B♮/F♯, R3: T. R4: G♯/E♭; F/C♮ bascule. Keymount type: blocks, saddles; swelling. Keyhead type: flat, square. Overall size: Height c 885; to top of upper section 751. Sounding length: c 890. Bore: Crook 14.4 - 14.7; upper section at bottom c 15.0. Upper section, lower section and bell stamped "CRAMER & SON / LONDON" / unicorn head; bell also stamped "No 20 PALL- MALL". Repair History: Lower section slightly warped, causing the long keys to bind in their blocks and guides. The instrument has apparently been shortened. The long keys for L4 now overlap the cross G♯ making the latter almost impossible to play. There is a join in the metal of the crook below the rim against which the (socket type) mouthpiece butts; the joint is covered by a brass sleeve. It is possible that a short length was cut from the top of the crook and both sleeve and tenon resoldered in a new position. The wood at the shoulder of the bottom is noticeably clean and its edge sharp, suggesting shortening. Usable pitch: In present condition, plays at A₄ = c 462 Hz. Performance characteristics: Badly out of tune in present condition. Specific literature references: Rendall 1954, p.132; Day 1891, No. 270; Edinburgh Society of Musicians 1894, item 37; G.S. (1951) No. 130; G.S. (1958) No. 35; G.S. (1968) No. 188; Hipkins 1885 p.52. Illustration references: Vol. 1 p.100; Hipkins and Gibb 1888, Plate XLI; Follan 1987a, p.22. |
NotesT.K. Dibley, 1992; T.K. Dibley, August 1991; H. Fricke, July 2005. |
MeasurementsHeight c 885; to top of upper section 751. |
ProvenanceLent by Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries. |
CollectionMIMEd ; Glen Collection |
Accession Number1708 |