Oboe. Nominal pitch: C.
3
InstrumentOboe |
Instrument FamilyWind |
MakerA. Morton |
Place MadeLondon; Europe; United Kingdom; England |
Date MadeCirca 1860 |
DescriptionTechnical description: Rosewood with silver keys and four ivory ferrules at the sockets, reed well and bell. There is a small onion shaped baluster at the top of the instrument. The reed well is lined with metal, possibly silver, the sockets are unlined. Simple octave keys. All keys are levers except for R2 and R3 rings and 8.2. The C♯ key fits into a depression on the low C key enabling both to be depressed at the same time. Pressing the low C key lowers the rings and closes the brille; the E♭ key has the same effect although the reasons for this action are not clear. The C♯-dup key does not close the low C key creating the possibility of a C₄/D♭₄ trill. The L0 low B key is attached to the middle section, the touchpiece can be folded down when the joints are separated; this arrangement means that the low B key passes under the thumb-rest which is mounted away from the oboe. There is no inward flange at the base of the bell. System: Elaborated Sellner system L0: C-alt-dup; B♭-alt; 8.1; Dtr-dup; G♯-alt; low B. (C-alt-dup is left of the rest position and B♭-alt right of it; 8.1 is above rest position; Dtr-dup is left of 8.1; G♯-alt is below rest position and low B below that). L1: PP; 8.2. L2: T. L3: T. L4: G♯; C-dup; C♯-dup; F-alt; E♭-alt. R0: sup. R1: T; B♭; C; C♯tr. R2: R. R3: R; F. R4: low C; C♯; E♭. Keymount type: pillars. Keyhead type: cup. Stamped on bell "MORTON / MAKER / LONDON"; on middle section with trademark "AM / S" within an ornate triangle; on the upper section with the trademark above the inscription that is on the bell. General usage of type: the large number of keys and large area covered by the left thumb could be a major obstable in mastering this insturment; the keys are small and the thumb must be very precisely placed if the wrong keys are to be avoided. However, the extra keys are duplicates or alternatives and may have been provided for a specific purpose. Usable pitch: Old Philharmonic pitch (A = 453 Hz) Performance characterics: as with most high pitch oboes, a smaller reed than is used with a modern instrument is necessary to produce a stable sound. The instruments makes a smallish, dark tone but the mechanism is leaking too seriously to make a proper assessment. |
Other InformationGeneral usage of type: The large number of keys and large area covered by the left thumb could be a major obstacle in mastering this instrument; the keys are small and the thumb must be very precisely placed if the wrong keys are to be avoided. However, the extra keys are duplicates or alternatives, and may have been provided for a specific purpose. Specific usage history: Said to have been played by Charles Carey, Bandmaster of the 62nd Regiment. |
NotesS. Milton, 1993. |
Measurements549. |
ProvenanceBought by H.I. Brackenbury from Rudall Carte for £1/10/0.; Government allocation to the University, 1991. |
CollectionMIMEd; C.H. Brackenbury Memorial Collection |
Accession Number1028 |