1902.16.7

Collection type

Object

Description

Whithorn oboe.

Geographical reference

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Europe > Northern Europe > United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

England Oxfordshire Ducklington near Witney

Cultural groups

English

Person

Maker Unknown Maker

Field collector Thomas James Carter

PRM source Henry Balfour

Date / Period

Date made: Probably 1895

Date collected

1895

Acquisition information

Donated: 1902

Materials and processes

Material Willow Wood Plant, Material Bark Wood Plant, Material Plant Thorn, Process Twisted, Process Pegged

Dimensions

Diameter 45 mm bell, Length: max 203 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1902.16.7

Research and responses

For the donor's own account of 'whit horns', see 'A Primitive Musical Instrument', by Henry Balfour, in The Reliquary and Illustrated Archaeologist, new series, Vol. II (October 1896), pp. 221-4 (copy in RDF for 1903.130.22). [JC 23 6 2006]

For further information about tradition see http://www.icknieldwaymorrismen.org.uk/tradition_ducklington.html: The village of Ducklington supported an elaborate Whit-Monday ceremony known as the 'Peeling Horn Ceremony', in which the young men of the village made horns which were used as part of the Whit Hunt in Wychwood Forest. They joined residents from other villages (Hailey, Witney, Leafield and Crawley), who were allowed to hunt, kill and retain a stag during Whitsuntide. At 3 a.m. on Whit-Monday the young men of the village cut withies from which they removed the bark. This was rolled up into three funnel shaped horns by pinning the bark with thorns (e.g. blackthorn). A double reed of willow was fitted into the narrow end, which enabled the horn to make a loud hooting sound. The village was roused by this sound at 4 a.m. and all participated in erecting a pre-assembled maypole, which in total measured some 40-ft. The maypole was decorated with 'laycocks and golden chains'. Once assembled the Morris was danced around it; this was thought to be associated with worship of the vegetable world. [AP 29/06/2006]

Associated publications

Discussed, along with the other whit-horns in the PRM, on pages 118-120 of '"Captain Kennedy's Mandolin", and Other English Musical Instruments at the University of Oxford's Pitt Rivers Museum', by Alice Little, in Journal of Museum Ethnography, no. 23 (2010), pp. 117-28. (Copy in RDF: Researchers: Little, Alice.) [JC 20 12 2012]

Search terms: Music, Hunting, Musical Instrument, Hunting accessory, Double Reed