2*" "/*^k f?H*> M V *8 vMMtntff flr 1 . rt \ ^ vA ImcjlCo- 13 2. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from National Library of Scotland http://www.archive.org/details/descriptivecatal1891roya A CATALOGUE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. A A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF THE Musical Instruments RECENTLY EXHIBITED AT THE ROYAL MILITARY EXHIBITION, LONDON, 1890. Issued under the orders of COLONEL SUA IV-HELLIER, Commandant Royal Military School of Music; and compiled by CAPTAIN C. R. DA Y, Oxfordshire Light Infantry. EYRE & SPOTTISWOODE, LONDON—EAST HARDING STREET, FETTER LANE, E.C. 1891. PREFACE. WHEN the Royal Military Exhibition of last year was first promoted, I was requested by those in authority to take entire charge of the musical arrangements, and to provide for the performance of varied programmes of popular music, in the grounds of the Exhibition, during the season. As this seemed to me to offer an opportunity, probably unique, for enabling the public to judge of the capabilities of our best military bands, I thought that by introducing music of a higher class into the programmes, and by arranging for a constant succession of different military bands, brought from all parts of the United Kingdom, instead of employing some half dozen bands only, amusement for the frequenters of the Exhibition would be more amply provided for. And, in addition to this, musical critics would have the opportunity of judging of the present state of military music generally, of the requirements of a military bandmaster and of a military musician, and also of the relative merits and demerits of our present system. Accordingly, I suggested this plan, which met with the entire approval of H.R.H. the Commander-in- Chief, who issued the necessary orders to enable me to carry it out. The Exhibition remained open some five months. During these five months no less than 74 different military bands of all branches of the Service were engaged, most of these remaining in London for a week. By these means it has been possible to form a very fair idea as to the general state of military music in this country, and to gain a large amount of material knowledge as to the present system, which could not have been otherwise obtained. a 3 vi PREFACE. As the development of military music is, like everything else in the army, rapidly progressing, it is becoming more than ever absolutely necessary that military musicians should be in accord and " touch " with the musical profession, and should have some real interest as regards what is occurring in the musical world ; and unless this is so, we may look in vain for any real improvement. That the career of a military musician should offer advantages in a professional point of view must be fully recognised. And that the curriculum at Kneller Hall, as re-constituted, offers a sound musical educa- tion, and one which may, in its special way, be brought to compare favourably with that offered by the Royal Academy of Music, or Royal College of Music, is a point which time alone can show ; and that time will show proof of this I venture to believe. As there is in England, unfortunately, no Conservatoire as comprehensive as that of Paris, and no Museum of Musical Instruments in which students can see the improvements and various experimental stages through which Musical Instru- ments have passed, the opportunity offered last year by the Exhibition appeared most appropriate for assembling a large collection. And as the military musician has chiefly to deal with Wind Instruments, which in their present state are virtually the growth of the present century, I proposed that the collection should be principally one of Wind Instruments. The matter was fully discussed at a meeting held at the Royal Academy of Music, at which representatives of that excellent society, the Wind Instrument Chamber Music Society, and various leading musicians were present. It was accordingly decided that the aim of the collection should be to set forth the gradual history and development of Wind Instruments from the earliest times to the most recent improve- ments of the day ; a point which appears of the greatest PREFACE. vii importance, and cannot be overrated. Thanks to the cor- dial co-operation of Dr. Mackenzie, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, of M. Gevaert and M. Mahillon, of the Brussels Conservatoire, and various other gentlemen distin- guished in the musical world, the collection became a fait accompli, and was thrown open to the public in June last. As there is no text book in English in which the theory and construction of Wind Instruments is treated of, it seemed that a technical Catalogue designed upon the lines of that now issued would be a book of interest, and would also supply a want felt generally among students, too many of whom are, unfortunately, ignorant of anything further than the mere fingering of their instruments. Unfortunately, the death of Mr. Charles Cousins, the Director of Music at Kneller Hall, which occurred in May last, caused my time to be occupied almost entirely with the affairs of the School of Music, much extra work falling of necessity upon my shoulders. I was therefore unable to devote as much time as I could have wished to the prepara- tion of this Catalogue, and was compelled to place the matter, subject to my supervision, in the hands of Captain C. R. Day, an officer whose services had, on account of his musical knowledge, been placed, specially, at my disposal by H.R.H. the Commander-in-Chief, and whose skill and intelli- gence more than realised my most sanguine expectations. Certain considerations, over which I had no control, pre- vented the publication of this Catalogue before ; but as they are now happily removed, the work is issued with the hope that it may prove of interest and permanent value. To those gentlemen, and to those firms of Musical Instru- ment makers, who have so generously assisted us in carrying out this work, I desire to convey my fullest thanks, both for their disinterested help, and for the kindness and courtesy viii PREFACE. with which they have met us upon all occasions. The names of these gentlemen, and the nature of their assistance, are more fully explained in a note of Captain Day's, which I requested him to draw up, and which I therefore judge better to give at length below. T. B. Shaw-Hellier, • Colonel, Commandant, Royal Military School of Music. NOTE. — In the compilation of this Catalogue much valuable assistance has been received from various gentlemen, many of whom, at considerable personal inconvenience, unselfishly gave up valuable time and devoted themselves to minute examination of the instru- ments described in the following pages. I wish especially to thank Mr. Richard Rockstro, who very kindly undertook the whole ol Section II., relating to Flutes, and who not only furnished the necessary details and "copy," but contributed the admirable prefatory Essay to that Section, revising and seeing all through the press. Especial thanks are also due to the Rev. F. W. Galpin, F.L.S., for his energy and labour in connection with Sections I. and IX. The details and measurements of almost all the instruments described in these Sections were furnished by him, and his varied and practical knowledge has been of the greatest value. Of the assistance and co-operation of Mr. D. J. Blaikley, the able manager of Messrs. Boosey and Co's manufactory, it would be impossible to speak too highly. His knowledge of acoustics and his unique practical experience he generously placed at my disposal, and the value of his help, not in one Section alone but throughout the work, cannot be overrated. The learned and exhaustive Essay upon Musical Pitch, a subject of ever-increasing importance, and printed in the Appendix, is from Mr. Blaikley's pen, and has been written by him especially for this work. PREFACE. ix Valuable assistance has been rendered by M. Victor Mahillon, the Conservateicr dn Musee of the Brussels Conservatoire, and the kind- ness of this gentleman in coming over, especially, from Brussels was very great. Thanks are also due to Mr. Henry Carte for much important information ; and to Mr. George Case, whose knowledge in connection with instruments of the Trombone family is well known. Thanks are due to Messrs. Besson and Co. for their courtesy in affording facilities for the examination of various important documents and foreign patent specifications. Acknowledgment is due also to Mr. Kohler, to Mr. Henry Potter, to Mr. George Potter, to Mr. Glen, and to various others too numerous to mention individually. In conclusion, I must thank Mr. A. J. Hipkins, F.S.A., for the sound criticism and judicious advice so freely given by him upon all occasions, and for his kind help and experience, which has been of the most material assistance. C. R. Day, Captain, Oxfordshire Light Infantry. CONTENTS. SECTION TAGE - I. Flutes : («) Flutes-a-bec - i II. Flutes: (P) Flutes traversieres - 23 III. Bagpipes - - - - - 53 IV. Instruments with Double Reeds : (a) with conical BORE - - - - - - 64 V. Instruments with Double Reeds : (/S) with cylin- drical bore - - - - - - 96 VI. Instruments with Single Reeds : (*) with cylin- drical bore ... - ioi VII. Instruments with Single Reeds : (&) with conical BORE .....-- iji VIII. Instruments with Cup-shaped Mouthpieces: (a.) Tubes of fixed length ..... 136 IX. Instruments with Cup-shaped Mouthpieces: Q3) Length varied by means of lateral holes - - - 152 X. Instruments with Cup-shaped Mouthpieces: (7) Length VARIED BY MEANS OF SLIDE .... 174 XI. Instruments with Cup-shaped Mouthpieces: (8) Length - VARIED BY MEANS OF VALVES - - - 182 XII.