Classification Methodology
The content of the Conservatoire’s Collection is largely confined to European wind and brass instruments, and string bows of the eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. The Catalogue uses many specialist terms specific to the type, age and make of instrument. Each instrument type has its own terminology which will be explained below after a detailed explanation of the information that was recorded and how measurements were made.
Classification Methodology | Woodwind and Brass Instruments | String Bows
Methodology
The general layout of the Catalogue follows closely that formulated by CIMCIM[1]. A full explanation of the technical information presented and how it was gathered is given below.
Acquisition Number
(e.g. 3.4)
For this catalogue a new numbering system was implemented. Despite many of the items having existing numbers from previous catalogues it was deemed necessary to assign new numbers due to missing items, items with no previous number and new items being acquired. The new decimal system allows for further additions to the Collection whilst maintaining the numeric sequence of the instrument categories.
Original name
This is the name (or names), where known, of the instrument in the country where it was made or first sold.
Common name
The vernacular modern designation in the language of the catalogue. This may include a conventional designation of size or pitch, such as `half-size violin’, `25-inch Kettledrum’ or `Bb Piccolo’.
Nominal pitch
Applies to wind instruments “in” a certain key. On brass instruments, this is generally the fundamental pitch of the tube without keys or valves being pressed or slides extended. On woodwinds other than bassoons, this is generally one tone lower than the `six-finger’ note in the lowest register for instruments overblowing at the octave, in the second register for instruments overblowing at the twelfth. For example, the instrument with traditional English nomenclature `Bb Piccolo’ has the nominal pitch Ab.
Type or system
The principal technical characteristic, relating where possible to an established designation. In general, the type or system is that characteristic requiring a particular technique of the player. For example, `Boehm system’, `6-string’, `1-key’ `hand-tuned ‘ (timpani), `French fingering’, `Thumbplate system’ `Valve’ (trombone) etc
Maker
The maker’s name is given, whether the actual maker or the firm. In cases of doubt, the standard definitions developed by Sotheby’s has been used:
`by’ The instrument is in the cataloguer’s opinion the work of the named maker. This category also includes instruments made especially for a dealer and originally sold under his name, and where the actual maker is unknown or unidentifiable.
`ascribed to’ A traditional attribution.
`attributed to’ The instrument is believed to be by the named maker in the opinion of the cataloguer or the authority whose literature is referred to.
`School of’ The instrument is, in the opinion of the `… school’ cataloguer, by a follower of the maker indicated, or is in the style of instruments associated with the area indicated.
`labelled’, or `stamped’ The instrument is not, in the cataloguer’s opinion, by the maker indicated but merely `inscribed’ bears their name. In some cases the instrument may be a later copy or be modelled after the maker indicated.
Place of origin
The town or country of origin of each item is given if known, using modern day names. This field also includes the date of making: for all items, a date of making is given, no matter how vague the known information.
Serial number
All known serial marks are described for each item.
Further information on maker
Where further information on the maker which is relevant to the specific item is available, it has been recorded here, sometimes with bibliographic references.
Overall size
The height or length of the instrument.
Woodwind and Brasswind Instruments
Sounding length
The length between the end of the reed receiver, mouthpiece receiver or crook to the end of the bell. For woodwind instruments, this does not include crooks or staples. For brasswind instruments, this measurement was taken with all tuning slides pushed in, giving the shortest length possible. Where a choice of crooks was possible, the crook used when measuring is noted.
Bore
The bore of wind instruments of any substantial cylindrical section was measured where possible. For many of the woodwind instruments, additional measurements were made of each section.
Depth of reed, mouthpiece or crook receiver
In woodwind and brasswind instruments, the depth of receiver was measured. This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5 mm.
Diameter of reed, mouthpiece or crook receiver
In woodwind and brasswind instruments, the diameter of receiver was measured. This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5 mm.
Technical description
A description of the instrument, including specification of the materials used, number of sections and other general details is given.
Key work and finger holes
Where instruments are designed so that the player’s fingers operate keys to allow the sounding of a discrete pitch or set of pitches (as on woodwind instruments), a table is presented to show the notes obtained by actuating the mechanism allocated to each finger or the mechanism name (e.g. `Patent C sharp’. The thumb keys on bassoons are listed clockwise, starting from twelve o’clock in the normal inspection position.
Key head type
On wind instruments, the type of key head is described and noted in the technical description. See Woodwind Terminology below for description of the common flap designs found on instruments in the Collection.
Key mount type
The method of key mounting and the spring types of wind instruments is indicated in the technical description.
Valve type
On brasswind instruments, the type of valve used.
String Bows
Technical description
In this field the general characteristics of each bow are noted: a description of frog shape and material, head shape and facing, button style and material, stick shape and material. See String Bows Terminology for further details.
Overall size
The measurement for the overall size was taken from the end of the tip to the button. This measurement was taken with a metal meter stick and is accurate to plus or minus 1 mm.
Weight
Where a bow was missing hair, button or frog, this is noted. This measurement is accurate to within 1 gram.
Hair length
This measurement was taken from the back of the head to the ferrule or where the hair first meets the frog. For bows with ellipse shaped heads such as the bass bows or the violin bows with rounded axe shaped heads, the measurement was taken from the longest hair on the side of the head, rather than the shortest hair at the back. This measurement was taken with a metal meter stick and is accurate to plus or minus 1 mm.
Balance point
This measurement was taken with a metal meter stick and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5 mm.
Head height
The variety of head shapes in the bows of the Collection means that this measurement cannot easily be compared between bows. No one standard measurement can be taken and therefore this distance is only approximate. In general, the distance measured was taken with the bow on a flat surface, from the bottom of the head immediately after the hair, vertically upwards. This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5 mm.
Head face width
For this measurement, the widest point of the head face (usually at the back) and the narrowest (the tip) was taken. In the case of ellipse shaped heads, only the widest point was measured. This measurement was taken with a metal meter stick and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5 mm.
Head face length
This measurement was taken at the longest point of the face. This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5 mm.
Frog diameter
The diameter of the frog, from back to front, was taken and where the variation in these measurements is greater than 1mm both measurements are given. This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5 mm.
Frog height
The height of the frog, from back to front, was taken and where the variation in these measurements is greater than 1mm both measurements are given. This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5 mm.
Stick width
For this measurement the width of the stick at its widest at the back and at its narrowest before the head was taken. The two figures are presented back to front. This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5 mm.
Button length
This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5 mm.
Ferrule width
Where a ferrule has tapered corners, the greatest distance was recorded. This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5 mm.
Inscriptions
The text of all inscriptions found on the instrument, whether original or added later, has been included in this catalogue. The method of inscription (such as branded, inscribed, carved, engraved, labelled, stamped, written etc.) has been noted as well as details of motifs and logos.
Case etc.
Items such as cases, reed-caps, tool-kits, cleaning equipment, tuning hammers, etc associated with an instrument but are not used in playing are mentioned here.
Faults
Any faults or missing parts which impair the appearance or may affect the performance of an instrument are described here.
Repair history
Any repairs, modifications or other deliberate alterations carried out on the instrument which brought it into its most recent playing state are described.
General literature references
References to published descriptions of the class of instrument (not referring to the particular item being catalogued) may be made. Each reference should include title, author, publisher, place and date of publication and the relevant page number
Usable pitch
The playing pitch determined by the construction of the instruments, e.g. `Plays at a’ = 440 Hz’ is given where it was possible to measure. If the instrument was made to be used at a particular pitch standard such as “Diapason Normal” (a’ = 435 Hz) or “Old Philharmonic” (a’ = 452.5 Hz) this has been stated.
Performance characteristics
The playing features of the instrument and any appreciable strengths or weaknesses are given.
Association with other items
Where separately catalogued items are directly associated with each other, this has been noted. [For example, all brass instrument mouthpieces are catalogued separately, whether they are know to be original to the instrument (in the case of the Cornopean, item 6.11, and its mouthpiece, item 13.20).] Clarinet mouthpieces which are known to belong to an instrument have not been catalogued separately.
Specific literature references
Where there is published literature referring to a specific item, it is noted with full bibliographic details.
Illustration references
Most of the items in the Collection have been photographed. Some are presented within this volume and the total is available to download via the web version of this catalogue www.conservatoire.bcu.ac.uk/browsehic/image-resources.
Specific recording references
Many of the items in the Collection have been recorded and are included on the CD (see page 100 for track listing) and can be downloaded via the web version of this catalogue at www.conservatoire.bcu.ac.uk/browsehic/audio-resources.
Previous ownership
The names of former owners, collectors or players are given.
Collection assignation
Where a donated collection retains its identity within the Collection as a whole (i.e. Key Collection), this has been noted.