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{The Brussels Musical Instruments Museum Oboe Collection}
Stefaan Verdegem - Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel
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IND ?> Inv. number
2613
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CN/NP ?> Common name / Nominal Pitch
Oboe in C
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TS ?> Type or system
10 keys
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MK ?> Maker
Van Belle
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IN ?> Mark, inscriptions
(star) / Van Belle / a Gand (cursive in oval cartouche) – on all 3 parts.
- PL ?> Place of origin Ghent (Gent)
- DM ?> Date of making 1st half of the 19th century.
- MATERIALS Boxwood with ivory mounts and brass keys.
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MEASUREMENTS
Only approximate, instrument heavily warped.
- Body Length c.557–565mm
- TJ length (body + tenon) c.214 mm + 21.8mm
- MJ length (body +tenon) 209mm + n.m.
- B length c.139.6mm
- Acoustic Length c.319mm
- BORE
- Minimal bore c.4.7mm
- Reed well diameter 6.4mm
- Bore at end of TJ 9.2mm
- Bore at top of MJ 11.2mm
- Bore at end of MJ n.m.
- Bore at top of B n.m.
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TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Brass keys, mostly on plate based pillars, with round flat flaps.
On TJ: octave key, C for L3, Bb for R1, G# for L4;
On MJ: F# for R4, cross-F, C-C#-Eb with particular design, low B with long lever for L4, key on bell.
SATB (springs attached to the body) for C-C#-Eb.
SATK (springs attached to the key) for the rest of the keys.
Keyheads have various styles.
Raised key rings circular.
Bell with inner rim and 1 vent-hole, plugged again (later?).
Reed cylinder metal lined.
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FL ?> Faults
Fair condition. Body and keywork in good condition, but the body is heavily warped. No visible cracks. Pads are missing on a few keys. Vent-hole in bell plugged.
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UP ?> Usable Pitch
Pitch difficult to estimate. A = c.435Hz with reed TL 68.9mm / staple 42mm / tip width 7.7mm.
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PC ?> Performance Characteristics
Instrument has hardly any more pads; ‘instant repair’ was required to get an idea of the playing quality. Slender ‘classical’ sound, a little bright but nice. Easy-speaking instrument. Octaves come easily without octave key. The impression is that it is (has been) a fine playing instrument.
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PO ?> Previous Ownership
Ex-Snoeck
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FM ?> Further information on maker
Mentioned in Closson (1935) p.74.
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SR ?> Specific literature Reference
Mahillon (R1978) Vol.IV p.360.
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Remarks
The heavily warped body was already mentioned by Mahillon in his catalogue Vol.IV around the beginning of the 20th century.
It seems that – given the different keyhead style and the plugged bell vent-hole – the low B has been added at some time.
{Van Belle}
