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9 keys. Jean Nicholas Savary was born in 1786; he won the Premier Prix at the Paris Conservatoire in 1808. After playing principal bassoon at the Théâtre des Italiens he turned to bassoon making and become the most celebrated maker of his time. (Rendall Collection).
Bassoon
J.N. Savary
Paris
Europe
France
Western Europe

Instrument Information

Title

Bassoon, nominal pitch: C

Accession Number

0153

Collection

MIMEd; Rendall Collection

Date Information

Date Made

1824

Period

19th century; 1820s

Gallery Information

Gallery

Wolfson Gallery

Case

Woodwind case 2

Maker Information

Maker Name

J.N. Savary (b.1786, d.1853)

Maker Biography

Jean Nicholas Savary (1786-1853) was a French born woodwind instrument maker who supplied instruments to the royal Italian theatre orchestra, Academy and royal school. He pioneered bassoon improvements included a wing with mechanical tuning slide. In 1826 he closed his workshop, dedicating his time instead to teaching bassoon performance. He was referred to by many as the ‘Stradivari of bassoon.’ He probably started making instruments independently of his father (few of whose instruments survive) in his own workshop in 1823. In that year, he introduced key-rollers to the instrument, a ‘bascule’ (a sort of drawbridge with counter-weight) mechanism, and ratchet-driven tuning-slides on the wings. As in this case, his instruments were usually dated.

Made In

City

Paris

Country

France

Description

Technical Description

Technical description: Ringed maple with brass ferrules and keywork. Long joint. E♭, D, C and B♭ keys on platform.

L0: C; B♭; harm 1; harm 2; E♭; D.
L1: T.
L2: T.
L3: T.
R0: T; F♯.
R1: T.
R2: T.
R3: T.
R4: F; A♭.

A crack on the butt has been pinned. Crook key removed leaving saddle on wing. The crook is a replacement by J. Soulsby, c 1983.

Usable pitch: A₄ = 435-440 Hz.

Signature / Marks: Stamped with sunburst / "Savary / jeune / A PARIS" / sunburst; also on butt "1824" and on wing "2"; crook stamped "J.S.".

Illustration references: Vol. 1 p.84.

Classification

Instrument

Bassoon/Bassoons/Wind/Musical Instrument ; Bassoon

Instrument Family

Wind

Hornbostel Sachs Classification

422.112 ; musical instrument