Oboes
3.1 - Pastoral oboe | 3.2 - Pastoral Oboe | 3.3 - Pastoral Oboe | 3.4 - Oboe | 3.5 - Oboe |
3.6 - Vox humana | 3.7 - Oboe | 3.8 - Oboe | 3.9 - Oboe | 3.10 - Oboe
Terminology and Glossary | Cataloguing Standards
| Catalogue number: | 3.1 |
| Original name: | Pastoral Oboe (Musette). |
| Type or system: | No keys. |
| Maker: | Unknown. |
| Place of origin: | Probably French, mid 19th century. |
| Overall size: | 368mm. |
| Bore: | Upper joint: 6.6mm - 9.8mm; lower joint: 9.8mm - 26.4mm (end of bell). |
| Technical description: | 2 sections of boxwood, ivory ferrules at the top of each joint. Upper joint: 249mm; lower joint (bell): 141.1mm. 1 thumb-hole, 7 finger-holes: 6 on upper joint, 1 on lower joint. |
| | Finger-holes. | Diameter. | Distance from foot (distance to hole centres). |
| | Left hand thumb: | 2.3mm | 295.5mm |
| | Left hand, first finger: | 2.3mm | 281.6mm |
| | Left hand, second finger: | 4mm | 255.9mm |
| | Left hand, third finger: | 4mm | 230mm |
| | Right hand, first finger: | 3.3mm | 203.7mm |
| | Right hand, second finger: | 4.9mm | 181.6mm |
| | Right hand, third finger: | 4.2mm | 151.6mm |
| | Right hand, fourth finger: | 3.6mm | 113.6mm |
| Illustration references: | See below |
| Catalogue number: | 3.2 |
| Original name: | Pastoral Oboe (Musette). |
| Maker: | Unknown. |
| Place of origin: | Probably French, mid 19th century. |
| Overall size: | 356.4mm, bell diameter: 59mm. |
| Bore: | Upper joint: 6.1mm - 8.5mm; lower joint: 13.1mm - 33.6mm (bell). |
| Technical description: | 2 sections in rosewood, with 7 finger holes and 1 thumb hole. Upper joint: 233mm; lower joint: 142.3mm. |
| | Finger-holes. | Diameter. | Distance from foot (distance to hole centres). |
| | Left hand thumb: | 3.1mm | 284.8mm |
| | Left hand, first finger: | 3.1mm | 274.9mm |
| | Left hand, second finger: | 5.3mm | 251.8mm |
| | Left hand, third finger: | 5.9mm | 226mm |
| | Right hand, first finger: | 5.9mm | 198mm |
| | Right hand, third finger: | 4.3mm | 151.6mm |
| | Right hand, fourth finger: | 3.1mm | 122mm |
| Illustration references: | See below |
| Previous owner: | William Bentley. |
| Previous collection numbers: | A and B: Item 31. |
| Catalogue number: | 3.3 |
| Original name: | Pastoral Oboe. |
| Type or system: | 6 keys. |
| Maker: | Unknown. |
| Place of origin: | Probably France, mid 19th century. |
| Overall size: | 362.4mm. |
| Bore: | Upper joint: 5.6mm - 9.1mm; lower joint: 9.1mm - 28.5mm. |
| Technical description: | 2 sections of rosewood. Upper joint: 240mm; lower joint: 139.2mm. 6 silver salt spoon style keys mounted by post and axles attached directly to the body, 2 needle springs and 3 leaf springs attached by rivets to the underneath of the key touch piece. Silver band on bell. |
| | Key work and Finger holes. | | |
| | Left hand thumb: | T (key) | |
| | Left hand, first finger | T | |
| | Left hand, second finger: | T | |
| | Left hand, third finger: | T | |
| | Right hand, first finger: | T; (2key) G sharp, long F | |
| | Right hand, third finger: | T | |
| | Right hand, fourth finger: | T; (long F) | |
| | Right hand, fourth finger: | (key) E flat | |
| Faults: | Brass ferrule missing, top of bell. 3 small vertical crack at top of bell: 1 serious and leaking air. |
| Illustration references: | See below |
| Catalogue number: | 3.4 |
| Original name: | Oboe in C. |
| Type or system: | 2 keys |
| Maker: | Unknown. |
| Place of origin: | Probably French, mid 18th century. There is no record of an instrument maker Moore living in Syston (Leicestershire) but there was an instrument dealer of that name, active in the 19th and 20th centuries. The instrument is either French or English modelled on a French Baroque instrument. It is probable that Moore imported the instrument and replaced the maker’s stamp with his own. Moore’s premises moved early 20th century to Leicester centre, and is now known as Moore’s & Stanworth. The carefully smoothed bore indicates a high degree of craftsmanship (possibly Huguenot, French) in its manufacture. |
| Overall size: | 600mm. |
| Bore: | at narrowest point: 5.6mm. |
| Diameter of reed receiver: | 7.5mm (at widest point). |
| Technical description: | Boxwood in 3 sections (217mm, 211mm, 172mm); two vent holes in the bell; one brass key, swallowtail style, mounted on raised ring; only one hole halved. |
| | Key work and Finger holes. | | Finger hole diameter (av.). |
| | Left hand, first finger: | T | 2.5mm |
| | Left hand, second finger: | T | 2.5mm |
| | Left hand, third finger: | T, T | 2.5mm, 2.5mm |
| | Right hand, first finger: | T | 5mm |
| | Right hand, second finger: | T | 5.2mm |
| | Right hand, third finger: | T | 4.3mm |
| | Right hand, fourth finger: | low C, D sharp / E flat | |
| Inscription: | Stamped on top joint: “MOORE / SYSTON”. |
| Faults: | Small crack in the bell running about 25mm from the base. Slightly warped. |
| Repair history: | Cleaned, April 2000. New string on tenons. |
| Usable pitch: | Plays at a’ = 415 Hz. |
| Specific literature references: | Listed in the New Langwill Index as an instrument by Moore. |
| Recording references: |
Click here |
| Illustration references: | See below |
| Previous owner: | William Bentley. |
| Previous collection numbers: | A and B: Add. 4. |
| Catalogue number: | 3.5 |
| Original name: | Oboe in C. |
| Type or system: | 2 keys. |
| Maker: | Thomas Cahusac I fl 1738-1798. |
| Place of origin: | London, c.1775. |
| | The Cahusac family all used this mark, making it very hard to identify exactly when this item was made. The style would suggest that it was by the father, Thomas senior, but it could be the work of Thomas Jr (c. 1780-1814) and his brother William Maurice (1796-1816). |
| Overall size: | 585mm total length. |
| Bore: | 6mm. |
| Diameter of reed receiver: | 7.8mm. |
| Technical description: | 3 sections (202.5mm, 212.5mm, 160mm) 3 joints); 2 brass keys, one swallowtail, mounted on raised blocks; only one hole halved; the top of the instrument has not been turned but is smooth (English “straight-top”); boxwood and ivory (between top and middle joints), with cork on the tenons. |
| | Key work and Finger holes. | | Finger hole diameter (av.) |
| | Left hand, first finger: | T | 3mm |
| | Left hand, first finger: | T | Left hand, first finger |
| | Left hand, third finger: | T, T | 2.5mm, 2.5mm |
| | Right hand, first finger: | T | 4.8mm |
| | Right hand, second finger: | T | 4.9mm |
| | Right hand, third finger: | T | 4.7mm |
| | Right hand, fourth finger: | low C, D sharp / E flat | |
| Inscription: | Stamped on the Middle and Bell joints: “CAHUSAC / LONDON”; Stamped on the Top joint: “CAHUSAC/ LONDON / REPOSITORY / TRURO”. |
| Faults: | Cracks: Foot of top joint (slight), top of middle (repaired), and at the foot of the bell reaching approx. halfway up (repaired). Warped considerably. |
| Repair history: | Cleaned, new leather pads, April 2000. Cork tenons replaced with linen string, 2008. |
| Usable pitch: | Plays at c.a’ = 430 Hz. |
| Recording references: |
Click here |
| Illustration references: | |
| Previous collection numbers: | A and B: Item 29b. |
| Catalogue number: | 3.6 |
| Original name: | Vox humana in F. |
| Common name: | Tenor oboe. |
| Type or system: | 2 keys. |
| Maker: | Roustagneq. |
| Place of origin: | Toulon, France, late 18th / early 19th century. |
| Overall size: | 761mm. |
| Diameter of reed receiver: | 8.6mm. |
| Bore: | Upper joint: 8.6mm - 13mm; lower joint: 13mm - 26.mm. |
| Technical description: | 2 sections in boxwood. Upper joint: 362.5mm; lower joint (including bell): 426mm. 2 brass keys, round flat flap (flap design S ), mounted on raised blocks. Low C key with swallow-tail touch piece. Springs attached to the body of the instrument. Evidence of a plugged hole (left hand, third finger) approx 12mm lower than existing hole. |
| | Key work and Finger holes. | | Finger hole diameter (av.) |
| | Left hand, first finger: | T | 1.9mm |
| | Left hand, second finger: | T | 1.9mm |
| | Left hand, third finger: | T | 2.1mm |
| | Right hand, first finger: | T | 5.5mm |
| | Right hand, second finger | T | 6.1mm |
| | Right hand, third finger | T | 5mm |
| | Right hand, fourth finger | D sharp / E flat, low C | |
| Inscription: | Stamped on both joints: “ROUSTAGNEQ” / (motif: fleur-de-lis). |
| Faults: | Cracks at the top of the lower joint A little warped. |
| Repair history: | Cleaned, April 2000. Crook made by Matthew Dart, 2008. Pads replaced 2008. |
| Usable pitch: | Plays at c.a’ = 415 Hz. |
| Performance characteristics: | Intonation is bad, probably due to the warped wood. |
| Specific references: | New Langwill Index, p.338. |
| Recording references: |
Click here |
| Illustration references: | See below |
| Previous owner: | William Bentley. |
| Previous collection numbers: | A and B: Item 28. |
| Catalogue number: | 3.7 |
| Original name: | Oboe in C |
| Type or system: | 6 or 7 keys. |
| Maker: | Schölnast. |
| Place of origin: | Pressburg, c.1811-1844. |
| Overall size: | 339mm. |
| Bore: | Lower joint: 16.5mm - 15mm; bell: 15mm - 45mm. |
| Technical description: | 2 sections of boxwood (originally 3). Lower joint: 227mm; bell: 137mm. Ivory ferrules; two vent holes in bell; thumb rest for right hand. Silver keys with round, flat keyheads mounted on 2 raised rings and 1 raised block. Overlapping C / C sharp touches. Key springs attached by rivets to the key. |
| Inscription: | Stamped on both joints: “ [motif: crest] / SCHÖLNAST / PRESSBURG”. |
| Faults: | Top joint missing; bell ferrule missing; key springs damaged. |
| Illustration references: | See below. |
| Previous collection numbers: | B: Item U.S. 12. (“This is the lower joint of an oboe of c. 1830, by Scholnash. Formerly incorrectly catalogued as Clarinet in C or E flat.”) |
| Catalogue number: | 3.8 |
| Original name: | Oboe in C. |
| Type or system: | Simple system. |
| Maker: | Jacques Albert. |
| Place of origin: | Brussels, c.1910. |
| Overall size: | 597mm. |
| Technical description: | 3 sections of rosewood. Upper joint: 252.5mm; lower joint: 259.5mm; bell: 125mm. German silver modern key work; metal reed well lining; socket linings and bell ring; thumb-plate, rosewood, 1 key on upper joint and lower joint engraved ‘B.S.M’ (Birmingham School of Music). |
| Inscription: | Stamped on all three joints: “ [motif: sunburst] / JACQUES ALBERT / BRUXELLES / [motif: sunburst]” . |
| Cases, etc: | Original case. |
| Faults: | Cracks: upper part of bell (small), upper part of lower joint (also small), and just above halfway up on front of upper joint. |
| Illustration references: | See below. |
| Previous collection numbers: | A: Item 4. |
| Catalogue number: | 3.9 |
| Original name: | Oboe in C. |
| Type or system: | Simple system. |
| Maker: | Louis & Co. |
| Place of origin: | London, c.1925. |
| Overall size: | 596mm. |
| Technical description: | 3 sections of cocus or rosewood. Upper joint: 252mm; lower joint: 254mm; bell: 123mm. Silver plated keywork, ferrules and bell ring. German silver reed receiver lining, joint socket linings. |
| Inscription: | Stamped on all three joints: “LOUIS / MAKER / LONDON”; Stamped on back of middle joint: “717”, Scratched at the foot of the bell: “9-46”. |
| Cases, etc: | Original case. |
| Faults: | Silver plating worn on some keys; one crack on the upper part of the bell. |
| Illustration references: | See below. |
| Usable pitch: | Plays at a’ = 440 Hz. |
| Catalogue number: | 3.10 |
| Original name: | Oboe in C. |
| Type or system: | Simple system. |
| Maker: | Buisson. |
| | London, early 20th century. |
| | Buisson was a trade name of John E Dallas & Sons, dealers established in 1875. |
| Overall size: | 603mm. |
| Technical description: | 3 sections in granadilla or blackwood. Upper joint: 249mm, lower joint: 258mm; bell: 129.5mm. Silver modern key work metal reed well lining; socket linings and bell ring. |
| Inscription: | Stamped on upper joint: “BUISSON”; stamped on back of middle joint: “5195”; stamped on bell: “F. BUISSON / SOLO / DISTRIBUTORS / DALLAS / LONDON”. |
| Catalogue number: | 3.11 |
| Original name: | Oboe in C. |
| Type or system: | Simple system. |
| Maker: | Buisson. |
| | London, early 20th century. |
| | Buisson was a trade name of John E Dallas & Sons, dealers established in 1875. |
| Overall size: | 603mm. |
| Technical description: | 3 sections in granadilla or blackwood. Upper joint: 252mm; lower joint: 253mm; bell: 128.8mm. Silver modern key work metal reed well lining; socket linings and bell ring. |
| Inscription: | Stamped on upper joint: “BUISSON”; stamped on back of middle joint: “6189”; stamped on bell: “F. BUISSON / SOLO / DISTRIBUTORS / DALLAS / LONDON”. |
