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The second chanter was added to the musette de cour after 1670 by Martin Hotteterre. Early depictions of musette de cour, such as Borjon de Scellery's Traité (1672), showed chanters with five keys, but by the time Jacques Hotteterre wrote his Méthode in 1738, the chanter had seven keys.
Musette
Europe
France
Western Europe

Instrument Information

Title

Musette de cours (bagpipe)

Alternative Title

Musette de cours.

Accession Number

2838

Collection

MIMEd; Glen Collection

Date Information

Date Made

Circa 1700

Period

1690s; 1700s; 1710s

Gallery Information

Gallery

Wolfson Gallery

Case

Drawer 26

Maker Information

No information recorded.

Made In

Country

France

Description

Technical Description

Description: Bellows-blown bagpipe of ebony with ivory mounts consisting of two chanters with joined stocks, shuttle drone, and bag with bag cover.

Chanter (grand chalumeau): eight finger-holes (last two finger-holes are drilled side-by-side and played by the right hand little finger) and one thumb hole. Last finger hole is offset to the right. Seven silver, closed, square-headed keys on integral wood mounts. One key missing. Ivory sole piece. Conical bore.

Chanter (petit chalumeau): tear-drop shaped closed chanter with six silver, oval-headed keys mounted on shared integral wood mounts. Three keys on front and three on back.

Joined stocks: two turned stocks joined with a connecting air pipe at the top and a dowel at the bottom. Ivory mounted.

Shuttle drone (bourdons): drilled for four double reeds. Five ivory sliders (layettes) fixed in five runners (coulisses). Ivory cap.

Connecting pipe and stock: sheepskin tube with ebony and ivory mounts.

Bellows: Oak boards with leather gusset folded and reinforced on the corners with stiff paper. Top board has decorative wood inlay with foliage and a butterfly. Belt of fabric that matches the bag cover.

Bag and cover: leather bag covered by a silk bag cover. Cover is badly damaged and falling apart. Most likely covered in foliage design.

Measurements:
Chanter 1 length: 217 mm
Bore: 3.2 mm – 9 mm
Chanter 2 length: 100 mm
Shuttle drone case length: 150 mm

On paper label on back of bellows: ESTABLISHED 1827 / J. & R. GLEN / BAGPIPE AND DRUM MAKERS / 497 LAWN MARKET / EDINBURGH

Provenance

`Lent by J. & R. Glen' to the 1885 exhibition; possibly lent by Mr Robert Glen to the 1904 exhibition; latterly stock of Messrs J. & R. Glen; sold to Glasgow Corporation Art Gallery and Museum in 1942. ; Lent by Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries No.A'42-68ac.

Classification

Instrument

Musette/Bagpipes/Wind/Musical Instrument ; Musette

Instrument Family

Wind

Hornbostel Sachs Classification

422.121-71+422.22-62