Basset horn. Nominal pitch: F.

Boosey & Co

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Instrument

Basset horn

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Boosey & Co

Place Made

United Kingdom ; Europe ; London ; England

Date Made

Circa 1912

Description

Technical description: Cocus wood with german silver ferrules and keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, lower section, bell. Mouthpiece cocus with a long table, german silver ligature and reed cap. Curved metal crook. Upper section: all tone-holes covered with plates, straight speaker, speaker liner projects almost to the centre of bore. Alternative side lever for E♭/B♭. Lower section: chromatic extension to C with all notes open-standing. E♭ and D♭ touchpieces for L4 and D and C (on C) touchpieces for R4. Mechanism fully interlinked to D♭. Upturned metal bell. Key head and tone-hole for the lowest note on bell. L0: T + ring F/C♮; speaker. L1: Plate + vent F♯; throat A♮; throat A♭. L2: Plate + vent; E♭/ B♭ correspondence. L3: Plate; cross E♭/ B♭. L4: C♯/G♯; E/B♮; F♯/C♯; basset E♭; basset D♭. R1: T + ring; B♭ via correspondence; trills 1-2-3. R2: T + ring B♮₃/F♯₅; B♭ via correspondence. R3: T + ring B♮₃/F♯₅; B♭ via correspondence; cross B♮₃/F♯₅. R4: G♯₃/E♭₅; E₃/B♮₄; F₃/C♮₅; F♯₃/C♯₅; basset D; basset C. Keymount type: pillars. Keyhead type: modern. Serial number: 19501. Possibly made by Buffet Crampon and imported. Overall size: height 912. Sounding length: c 1095. Bore: 16.2. Stamped un upper section with trumpet and banner trade mark incorporating "TRADE MARK" and "BOOSEY" / "BOOSEY & CO. / MAKERS / 295 REGENT STREET / LONDON / 18501 / IP", the `IP' in an oval cartouche; stamped on mouthpiece, lower section and bell "BOOSEY & CO. / 18501"; no inscription on crook. With wooden box case, basic fittings, with accessories inside. Usable pitch: A₄ = c 435 Hz; can just about be used at A₄ = 440 Hz. Performance characteristics: Very fine tone. Specific literature references: G.S. (1968) No. 199. Illustration references: Vol. 1 p.103; G.S. (1968) Plate VIII (4); Follan 1987a, p.22.

Notes

T.K. Dibley, 1992; R. Neil, 1986; H. Fricke, July 2005.

Measurements

height 912.

Collection

Rendall Collection ; MIMEd

Accession Number

0093

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