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{The Brussels Musical Instruments Museum Oboe Collection}
Stefaan Verdegem - Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel
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IND ?> Inv. number
0967
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CN/NP ?> Common name / Nominal Pitch
Oboe in C
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TS ?> Type or system
3 keys
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MK ?> Maker
Steenbergen, Jan
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IN ?> Mark, inscriptions
I:STEENBERGEN (in scroll) / (fleur-de-lis) – on all 3 parts.
- PL ?> Place of origin Amsterdam
- DM ?> Date of making 1st half of the 18th century.
- MATERIALS Ebony with ivory mounts and silver keys.
- MEASUREMENTS
- full_measurements1
- Body Length 573.8mm
- TJ length (body + tenon) 212.2mm + 24.3mm
- MJ length (body +tenon) 209.4mm + 24.3mm
- B length 152.5mm
- Acoustic Length 330.3mm
- BORE
- Minimal bore 6.3mm
- Reed well diameter 8.8mm
- Bore at end of TJ 11.9mm
- Bore at top of MJ 11.9mm
- Bore at end of MJ 20.2mm
- Bore at top of B 20.2mm
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TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
3 silver keys with flat flaps, type Young-L for Eb-keys; type Young-S for C-key.
SATB (springs attached to the body).
Raised key rings are circular.
3rd and 4th hole doubled with finger cove.
Bell with two vent-holes and inner rim.
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FL ?> Faults
Excellent condition, some scratches on body.
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UP ?> Usable Pitch
The best result was obtained with a rather long and wide reed.
A= c.415Hz with reed TL 81mm / 2-part staple 40mm (ø 3.2mm + 4.7mm) and a 27mm Chiarugi No.2 E.horn staple / tip width 9.5mm.
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PC ?> Performance Characteristics
Nice sound, a little thin but with character, easy emission, forked-fingerings rather sharp.
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PO ?> Previous Ownership
Ex-Mahillon V. & J.
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FM ?> Further information on maker
Bouterse (2005) Cd-rom pp.89–90, pp.215–6 (on mark) and pp.509–12.
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SR ?> Specific literature Reference
Mahillon (R1978) Vol.II p.250.
Listed in Young (1993) p.223.
- GL ?> General literature (about this type of instrument)
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Comparable instruments
Brussels MIM: Steenbergen oboes 0968 and 2611.
Amsterdam: De Vries Collection (1999) Steenbergen oboe p.11.
The Hague Gemeentemuseum Collection, oboes Ea3-x-1952 and Ea7-1952; See: Van Acht, Bouterse & Dhont (1997) pp.212–221 for pictures, and more drawings and full measurements.
See also Bouterse (2005) Cd-rom pp.160–1.
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Remarks
According to Mahillon (R1978) Vol.II p.250 the length including reed is 620mm, and the pitch is “half a tone below actual pitch” (c.1880 = 435Hz, SV).
Ebonised boxwood (“buis teint en noir”) according to Mahillon. Mahillon may be confusing it with the boxwood Steenbergen oboe MIM 0968.
Boxwood according to Young (1993) p.223, probably quoting Mahillon, since this instrument was lost at the time of the revision of his book.
Ebony according to Charles Indekeu and Marcel Ponseele.
MJ mark partly hidden behind C-key.
{Steenbergen}
