1938.34.117.4

Collection type

Object

Description

Petit chalumeau [.4] Musette de cour

Long description

Petit chamuleau [.4]. For the records of the objects associated with this petit chamuleau see bapipe bag and drone [1938.34.117 .1], bellows [1938.34.117 .2], grand chamuleau [1938.34.117 .3] and ebony and ivory pipes [1938.34.117 .5]. [GL 11/2/2020]

Geographical reference

France

Europe > Western Europe > France

Cultural groups

French

Person

Field collector Thomas William Taphouse

PRM source Henry Balfour

Date / Period

Date made: 1700-1800

Date collected

By 1905

Acquisition information

Bequeathed: 1939

Materials and processes

Material Ebony Wood Plant, Material Textile, Material Elephant Tooth Ivory Animal, Material Silver Metal, Process Turned, Process Covered, Process Woven

Dimensions

Diameter: max 27 mm, Length: max 143 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1938.34.117.4

Research and responses

The musette was examined by Francis Wood, researcher, on 17th August 2017. He noted that the tunings given above are generic and probably don't represent the real tuning of this instrument. The instrument is bigger than other examples, and could be considered to be a musette du cinq, a deeper musette de cour (probably a minor third below a 'normal' musette). The springs for the keys are made from steel. [JU 17/8/2017]

This musette is listed in 'Inventaire Rasionne des Musettes 1596-1782 - Contribution a l'histoire de la facture instrumentale' by Vincent Robin (Unpublished) - a memoire presented for the attainment of the diplome de l'Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Ministere de L'Enseignement Superieur et de la Recherche - Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes'. Robin considers that this musette belonged to the painter Philippe Rousseau (1816-1887) and that it appears in his paintings 'Le Banc aux Fleurs' and 'Chardin et ses Modeles'. It has various unusual characteristics which make it identifiable in these paintings. It is therefore probably mentioned in the inventory of objects in the painter's studio compiled by Paul Eudel in December 1882. (Copy of entry in RDF). [JU 23/8/2017]

Associated publications

Published in Bagpipes by Anthony Baines (Oxford: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, Occasional Paper on Technology, 9, 1960) on pages 125-127 and black and white photograph on Plate XII, No. 32. [MJD 31/08/2011] Mentioned in European Musical Instruments by Frank Harrison and Joan Rimmer , Studio Vista, London, 1964, p123 and illustrated on p.124 [JU 23/8/2017] Illustrated in Images de Musette by Compagnon and Robson, La Couture Boussay 2000, p44 [JU 23/8/2017] Illustrated in The World of Baroque and Classical Instruments by Jeremy Montagu, Overlook press, University of Michigan, 1979, p43,pl.VI, photo c A photograph of this musette features in the online Encylopedia Britannica entry for musettes: https://www.britannica.com/art/musette [JU 23/8/2017] Possibly mentioned in The Story of the Bagpipe by William H. Grattan Flood, The Walter Scott Publishing Co, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons 1911. p.126. "The late Mr Taphouse had a beautiful specimen of a musette, circa 1725, the bag of which is covered with figured silk and fitted with conical ebony chanter and having a barrel-shaped drone, with four cylindrical tubes regulated by five ivory slides.' [JU 3/8/2017]

Search terms: Music, Musical Instrument, Bagpipes