"Treble recorder, nominal pitch: F"

Treble recorder, nominal pitch: F | Johann Wilhelm Oberlender | Mid 18th Century

The grotesque face carved below the mouthpiece on this recorder is more than a decoration. It is a sign of technical advancement in instrument making. Early recorders were made from a single piece of wood or ivory. Later instruments were made in multiple sections, which is more difficult to do. To reinforce the fragile joints, instrument makers left bulbous masses of wood around the connecting parts, which might then be decorated.Carved boxwood with grotesque face above lip and opening, looking upwards as if to say `don't blame me for the sound, it's the human face above which is responsible'. The foot has at some time been roughly widened to raise the pitch. Gift of Nicholas Benn, 1999.

Treble recorder

Johann Wilhelm Oberlender

Germany

Central Europe

Europe

Instrument Data

Instrument Information

Title

Treble recorder, nominal pitch: F

Accession Number

3906

Collection

MIMEd

Date Information

Date Made

Before 1779, probably mid 18th century; Mid 18th Century

Gallery Information

Gallery

Wolfson Gallery

Case

Woodwind case 1

Maker Information

Maker Name

Johann Wilhelm Oberlender (b.1681, d.1763)

Maker Biography

The Oberlender family of Nürnberg (Nuremberg) were important woodwind instrument makers over three generations throughout the 18th century. Whilst, apparently, too many instruments have been attributed to earlier family members, it seems that the scroll set diagonally is certainly attributable to Johann Wilhelm I (1681-1763) rather than his two woodwind instrument maker sons (of 12 sons - and he also had 7 daughters!) or grandson. Thus this instrument probably dates from between 1705 and around 1745 after when he seems to have been inactive as a maker.

Made In

Country

Germany

Description

Technical Description

This treble recorder in F is made from carved and stained boxwood in three sections, seven finger-holes and thumb-hole. The windway is flat and the bore is roughly cut and widened at the foot. Decoration: Mouthpiece has carved decoration including a grotesque face; remainder of head section and foot section have carved decoration of acanthus leaves. The instrument is (now faintly) stamped on the body in an angled scroll “I.W. OBERLENDER / O”. The head and foot of the instrument are cracked and the lip damaged. There are small chips in the carving and the (not original) wide flare in the bore of the bell sharpens the pitch of the lowest note. Some cracks are glued and pinned. The usable pitch is A4 = c 429 Hz and the fingering baroque. Technical description: Stained boxwood; 3 sections; 7 finger-holes plus thumb-hole; flat windway; roughly cut wide flare in bore at bell. Repair History: Cracks glued and pinned; wide flare in bore is not original; joints lapped with cork.

Provenance

Gift of Nicholas Benn, 1999.

Classification