The typical British version of the cornet-à-pistons, with a `clapper key' for playing trills.

• Pictures
• Talk by the player
• The sound of the cornopean
• History
• Technical details

The mouthpiece in these pictures and recordings is (845), mouthpiece for cornopean or keyed bugle, c 1850.

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Pictures

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Talk by the player

• about the cornopean

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The sound of the cornopean

• traditional, `Drink to me only with thine eyes' (British)

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History

• Maker: Charles Pace
• Place: London.
• Date of making: 1834-53, probably c 1845.

Previous ownership: formerly stock of Messrs J. and R. Glen, probably originally belonging to Mr J. Maxwell of Baillieston.

Current ownership: On loan to the Collection.

EUCHMI Acquisition number: (2485)

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Technical details

• English name: Cornopean
• Type: 3 valves and clapper key.
• Nominal pitch: Bb.
• Overall size: 265mm; bell 119mm.
• Sounding length: overall air column lengths of shanks (a) 39mm, (b) 51mm, (c) 137mm; of crooks (single coil) (d) 228mm, (e) 318mm, (f) 538m. Bore: shank (a) at distal end (minimum bore) 9.6mm; shank (b) at distal end (minimum bore) 9.7mm; shank (c) at c 40mm from mouthpiece receiver, 10.0mm; shank (c) at distal end, 9.5mm; crook (d) at c 40mm from mouthpiece receiver, 9.9mm; crook (d) at distal end, 9.4mm; crook (e) at c 40mm from mouthpiece receiver, 10.1mm; crook (e) at distal end, 9.5mm; crook (f) at c 60mm from mouthpiece receiver, 10.0mm; crook (f) at distal end, 9.5mm; instrument body at c 40mm from shank/crook receiver (local minimum bore) 10.4mm; m.t.s. at c 325mm from shank/crook receiver, tuning-slide bore 11.4mm; v.t.s. 11.4.
• Dia of mouthpiece receiver: internal tapers of shanks (a) 11.4 - 10.3mm, (b) 11.4 - 10.6mm, (c) 11.4 - 10.8mm; crooks (d) 11.3 - 10.8mm, (e) 11.3 - 10.8mm, (f) 11.3 - 10.9mm; external tapers of shanks (a) 10.9 - 11.3mm, (b) 11.0 - 11.7mm, (c) 10.7 - 11.3mm, crooks (d) 10.7 - 11.1mm, (e) 10.7 - 11.2mm, (f) 10.7 - 11.2mm; shank/crook receiver taper 11.6 - 11.2. Overall size: 447mm (not including crook); bell 163mm.

Technical description: Brass with nickel or nickel alloy garland, valve top caps and touchpieces, and clapper key. The moving part of the main tuning-slide has the inner legs; the moving parts of the valve tuning-slides have the outer legs. With two alternative short shanks (a) and (b) for Bb (which could also be used as tuning bit with other shanks or crooks) and shank (c) for A; crooks (d) for Ab, (e) for G and (f) for F.

Valve type: 3 Stölzel valves with spring inside intermediate sleeve; alignment by key on sleeve; metal partitions.

Inscriptions: inscribed on bell garland "IMPROVED / & MADE BY / CHAS PACE. / 49 KING ST / WESTMINSTER". No inscriptions on shanks (a) and (b). Inscribed on applied circular silver plates: on shank (c) "A"; on crooks (d) "Ab"; (e) "G"; (f) "F".

Case: with fitted polished wooden case with silver corners, with silver plaque inscribed "Mr J. Maxwell of Baillieston".

Usable pitch: Plays c 60 cents above A₄ = 440 Hz.

Performance characteristics: Clapper key allows whole tone trills. Very soft sounding and not always a very round sound.

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© Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, 1999-2003, 2008.

This page updated: 29.10.08