"Basset horn, nominal pitch: F"

Basset horn, nominal pitch: F | Griesbacher | Circa 1800

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The basset horn is a low pitched member of the clarinet family, generally pitched in F. It was particularly popular in Vienna in the late eighteenth century, from when this instrument dates. The basset horn was a particular favourite of Mozart’s, whose colleague, fellow Freemason and friend Anton Stadler was a virtuoso on the instrument. It enjoyed great popularity in the Viennese Masonic Lodges in trio settings, as well as providing background music for dinners and other entertainments. It descends two notes lower than the normal clarinet. Raymund Griesbacher was one of the foremost makers of basset horns in Vienna in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Sir Nicholas Shackleton Collection.

Basset horn

Griesbacher

Vienna

Europe

Austria

Central Europe

Instrument Data

Instrument Information

Title

Basset horn, nominal pitch: F

Accession Number

4796

Collection

MIMEd; Sir Nicholas Shackleton Collection

Date Information

Date Made

Circa 1800

Period

18th century; 19th century; 1790s; 1800s

Gallery Information

Gallery

Wolfson Gallery

Case

Woodwind case 1

Maker Information

Maker Name

Griesbacher

Maker Biography

The Griesbacher firm was established in Vienna by Raymund Griesbacher (1751-1818) who was a member of Haydn’s orchestra and a noted clarinettist and basset-horn player. He was succeeded by his son Raymund II who became well known for his clarinets and was the woodwind maker to the court. The firm’s makers mark is a Hapsburg Eagle over the name split into two parts on two lines (Gries-Bacher).

Made In

City

Vienna

Country

Austria

Description

Technical Description

Technical description: Beautifully stained boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keywork. Seven pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, ivory knee, middle section for the fingers of the right hand, lower section with keys and book, brass bell. Originally with 8 keys, 7 added keys.

L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮; throat A♭.
L2: T; cross F₄/C₆.
L3: T; cross E♭₄/B♭₅.
L4: C♯₄/G♯₅; E₃/B♮₄; F♯₃/C♯₅.
R0: D₃; C₃.
R1: T; side trill key for throat A-B♮ and B♭-C.
R2: T.
R3: T; B♭₃/F♮₅; side B♮₃/F♯₅.
R4: F₃/C₅; G♯₃/E♭₅.

Keyhead type: flat square; later added keys round.
Keymount type: turned wooden rings; saddles on plates screwed in wood for the original keys, added keys mounted in pillars.

Signature marks: Inscribed with Habsburg eagle / "GRIES / BACHER / K.K.HOF /INSTR.MACHER / IN WIEN / 2".

Seven added round keys in pillars (L1 throat A♭; L3 cross E♭₄/B♭₅; L4 C♯₄/G♯₅; R1 side L2 cross F₄/C₆; side trill key for throat A-B♮ and B♭-C; R3 cross B♭₃/F♮₅; side B♮₃/F♯₅). The mouthpiece is a replacement.

Specific literature references: G.S. (1959), p.275; Sotheby's auction catalogue 8.11.1979 lot 23; Young 1993, No 5.
Illustration references: Bains 1961, Plate 24(b); Sotheby's auction catalogue 8.11.1979 lot 23.

Previous ownership: ex- James McGillivray collection.

Provenance

ex- James McGillivray collection ; Bequest of Sir Nicholas Shackleton, 2006.

Classification