"Soprano chalumeau, nominal pitch: C"

Soprano chalumeau, nominal pitch: C | Moeck | Presumably 1970s

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Chalumeau in C, Moeck, Celle, Germany, 1970s This instrument is a modern reproduction of a chalumeau, an early member of the clarinet family. The chalumeau was made in a number of different sizes, including bass, tenor, alto and soprano. This is a soprano instrument. The chalumeau (as well as the clarinet) was frequently used to evoke pastoral scenes in baroque operas. As a modern reproduction, this instrument shows some modern characteristics designed to make early instruments more approachable for modern players. This can particularly be seen through the use of double finger holes – normally these would only appear on the last hole – but are added here to facilitate the production of some notes.

Chalumeau

Moeck

Europe

Germany

Central Europe

Instrument Data

Instrument Information

Title

Soprano chalumeau, nominal pitch: C

Accession Number

5398

Collection

MIMEd; Sir Nicholas Shackleton Collection

Date Information

Date Made

Presumably 1970s

Gallery Information

Gallery

Wolfson Gallery

Case

Woodwind case 1

Maker Information

Maker Name

Moeck

Maker Biography

Dutch-born Hermann Moeck (1896-1982) established himself in Celle, Germany as a woodwind instrument maker specializing in recorders in 1925. He was also a publisher of sheet music for a time, supplying folk, early and contemporary music for the recorder via his subscription series Zeitschrift fur Spielmusik. In 1958 Hermann became more involved in the publication and promotion of modern Polish composers and avant-garde recorder music. He has also published books on instrument making, contemporary music, and woodwind instruments. Following his death in 1982, the firm remained in the family. By 1997, over 350,000 wooden instruments were made annually, more than any firm in the world. They were one of the first firms to look for synthetic alternatives to tropical hardwood in an attempt to halt tropical deforestation.

Made In

Country

Germany

Description

Technical Description

Technical description: Maple with brass keywork. Two pieces: body with integral mouthpiece, and foot section.

L0:T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A.
L2: T.
L3: T.
L4: TT.
R1: T.
R2: T.
R3: TT.
R4: TT.

Keymount type: turned wooden rings. Keyhead type: flat square.

Playing accessories: Reed and cord.

Provenance

Bequest of Sir Nicholas Shackleton, 2006.

Classification