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{The Brussels Musical Instruments Museum Oboe Collection}
Stefaan Verdegem - Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel
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IND ?> Inv. number
1981.002
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CN/NP ?> Common name / Nominal Pitch
Oboe in C
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TS ?> Type or system
Boehm-system oboe
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MK ?> Maker
Sax, Adolphe
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IN ?> Mark, inscriptions
AS (monogram) / Adolphe Sax / 51 rue blanche 51 / PARIS – on body and bell.
- PL ?> Place of origin Paris
- DM ?> Date of making End of 19th beginning of 20th century.
- MATERIALS African blackwood with silver plated keywork.
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MEASUREMENTS
Body and bell not detachable without unscrewing long butterfly key.
- Body Length 535mm
- TJ length (body + tenon) n.m.
- MJ length (body +tenon) n.m.
- B length 190mm
- Acoustic Length 334mm
- BORE
- Minimal bore 5.4mm
- Reed well diameter 6.8mm
- Reed or crook well depth (if cylindrical) 17.8mm
- Bore at end of TJ n.m.
- Bore at top of MJ n.m.
- Bore at end of MJ n.m.
- Bore at top of B n.m.
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TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Silver plated Boehm-system keywork. All keys mounted on a few long axles. Keyheads type Heyde-181/7.
Two joint instrument, but pieces are joined by long axle with butterfly key. 5 rings.
Metal thumb rest.
No bell rim. No vent-holes.
Metal lining: reed well, bell top (and socket?), bell end ring (missing).
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FL ?> Faults
Body and keywork in excellent condition except for some pads missing or in bad condition. No visible cracks. Bell bottom ferrule missing. The instrument is not in good playing condition due to worn pads and springs.
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PA ?> Playing Accessories
Reed (not original) for display only.
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UP ?> Usable Pitch
A = c.438–440Hz with reed TL 71mm / staple 47mm / tip width 7.2mm.
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PC ?> Performance Characteristics
Instrument plays remarkably well and beautifully despite the imperfect condition. Very good intonation and plays easily.
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FM ?> Further information on maker
Haine & De Keyser (1980). Unfortunately this book does not discuss the Sax oboes in the Brussels MIM, both instruments not yet being in the possession of the museum at that date.
- SR ?> Specific literature Reference
- IR ?> Illustration reference
- GL ?> General literature (about this type of instrument)
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Remarks
The Galpin Society provides extensive information, through its website, about the numerous trade marks that Sax used throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. According to the published list, based on the whole of the reference literature about Sax, this particular trade mark is associated with Adolphe-Edouard Sax (1859–1945) son of Adolphe Sax, who would use this trade mark between 1895 and c.1900.
This instrument is very similar to the Boehm oboe no.1364 depicted in the Couesnon catalogues of 1911 (as ‘Triebert’, a sub-brand of Couesnon) and 1934 (‘perce Couesnon ou Triebert’), including the 2-joint construction, and the silver plated keywork layout.
Pierre (1893) p.351: “Quant au hautbois, on sait que c’est à TRIEBERT qu’il doit le meilleur de ses perfectionnements et non à Ad. SAX.”