"Clarinet. Nominal pitch: B♭."

Clarinet. Nominal pitch: B♭. | E.J. Albert | Circa 1900

Clarinet. Nominal pitch: B♭. thumbnail 2

Clarinet. Nominal pitch: B♭. thumbnail 3

Clarinet. Nominal pitch: B♭. thumbnail 4

Clarinet. Nominal pitch: B♭. thumbnail 5

Clarinet. Nominal pitch: B♭. thumbnail 6

(opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab)

(Note: Each icon above opens in a new tab.)

Clarinet

E.J. Albert

Brussels

Europe

Belgium

Central Europe

Instrument Data

Instrument Information

Title

Clarinet. Nominal pitch: B♭.

Accession Number

5470

Collection

MIMEd; Sir Nicholas Shackleton Collection

Date Information

Date Made

Circa 1900

Period

19th century; 20th century; 1890s; 1900s

Gallery Information

Gallery

Wolfson Gallery

Case

Woodwind case 1

Maker Information

Maker Name

E.J. Albert

Maker Biography

Joseph Eugéne Albert (1860-1931) was a Belgian born woodwind instrument maker and one of three sons of Eugéne Albert, founder of the Albert workshop in 1846. The three brothers at times worked for their father, in partnerships with each other, and also independently. The family was known for making clarinets, which often included an extra c-sharp key. This key system became known as the “Albert System.” These instruments were especially popular with English musicians, and were still in use through the end of the 20th century.

Made In

City

Brussels

Country

Belgium

Description

Technical Description

Technical description: Blackwood with german silver ferrules and keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, lower section, bell. Tone-hole for B₃/F♯₅ through lower tenon of upper section. Curved speaker with chimney on front of the instrument. Long tailed British throat A♭ key. Barret action. C sharp mechanism. 1 extra trill key. 13 keys, 4 rings, 4 ebonite rollers.

L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T + ring; throat A♭.
L3: T + ring; cross E♭₄/B♭₅.
L4: C♯₄/G♯₅; E₃/B♮₄; F♯₃/C♯₅.
R1: T; Barret action (F₄/C₆; E♭₄/B♭₅); side trill key 1-2.
R2: T + spectacle.
R3: T + spectacle (forked B♭₃/F♮₅); cross B♭₃/F♮₅.
R4: G♯₃/E♭₅; F₃/C₅.

Keymount type: screwed in pillars.
Keyhead type: modern

Signature marks: Inscribed on upper section with star / monogram EJA / "E.J. ALBERT / A BRUXELLES" / star; on lower section and bell with star / "E.J. ALBERT / A BRUXELLES" / star; on barrel with star / "E.J. ALBERT" / star.

Crack in bell. Mouthpiece missing.

A pair with (5471) in A.

Provenance

obtained by Shackleton in exchange for a clarinet in|E♭ by H. Bettony, Boston, U.S.A., 17.8.1968. ; Bequest of Sir Nicholas Shackleton, 2006.

Classification