Known in Italy as the cornetto, ...

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

The mouthpiece in these recordings is the player's own, by Serge Delmas, c 1995.

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Pictures

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Talk by the player

• about playing an original instrument and copies

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The sound of the cornett

• Giovanni Paolo Cima (c 1570 - p 1622), excerpt from `Sonata I' from Concerti Ecclesiastici a 1. 2. 3. 4.5. & 8 Voci ... & sei sonate per instrument a due, tre e quatro (Milan, 1610).

• Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), excerpt from `Deposuit' from the `Magnificat' in Vespers (1610)

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History

• Maker: anonymous.
• Place: Italy (?).
• Date of making: 17th century (?).

Specific usage history: Used by Christopher Monk as a playing instrument, latterly as a pattern for new cornetti.

Previous ownership: ex- C.W. Monk collection, ex- P.A.T. Bate collection (1956). Philip Bate thought (1991) that he had bought it in Paris.

Current ownership: On loan to the Collection.

EUCHMI Acquisition number: (3189)

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Technical details

• English name: Cornett.
• Nominal pitch: G.
• Overall size: length 577 without mouthpiece.
• Sounding length: with holes closed, 576.
• Bore: minimum 11.0; 288mm from bell end, c 16.59; c 76mm from bell end, 23.5; bell 25.8.
• Diameter of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. 11.0 at proximal end, tapering to 8.0 at 15mm from end.

Technical description: Wood; made in two sections, bound together with cord and covered with leather. Finger-holes all substantially undercut.

Inscriptions: No inscriptions.

Repair history: Silver reinforcing bands probably a later addition by Christopher Monk to hold the instrument together.

Usable pitch: A₄ = c 465 Hz.

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References to this instrument in publications

CAMPBELL, D.M., 1999. Intonation et resonances acoustiques des cornets a bouquin et des serpents. In Laurent Espié and Vincent Gibiat, eds, Colloque acoustique et instruments anciens: factures musiques et science, 17-18 novembre 1998; Paris: Musé de la Musique, 1999, pp.125-137.

Brass Bulletin (1/1994) No. 85 p.17

Workshop drawing by R. Parks published by the Collection, 1993

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All material on this website is copyright.
© Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, 1999-2003, 2008.

This page updated: 29.10.08