Clarinet in C
Hermann Wrede, who was obviously of German origin, was listed as "Mus. Wind Inst. Mkr." from 1811 and from 1837 also as "Mus. Wind Inst. & Pfte. & Importer". The firm had the address at 15th St John’s square, Clerkenwell, between 1814 and 1829. (Waterhouse, NLI, 436)
Overall size: 585
Bore: c-hole 13.4; f-hole 13.4
Conical part: 110
Technical description: Boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keywork. Six pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, middle section for the fingers of the right hand, lower section with keys, bell. Long tenon ebony mouthpiece grooved for cord. English-style flask shaped barrel. Square wooden rings strengthened with pins. Speaker liner projects almost to the centre of the bore. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a bell-shaped swelling. Zig-zag F♯3/C♯5 lever guided in a rudiment of a square wooden ring. Bevelled G♯3/E♭5 touchpiece.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T.
L3: T.
L4: E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T.
R2: T.
R3: T.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: flat square.
Keymount type: Turned wooden rings, swelling.
Inscribed on all pieces except for unstamped mouthpiece "H. WREDE / LONDON"; on bell unicorn head / H. WREDE / 15 / ST JOHNS . SQUARE / CLERKENWELL / LONDON / C"
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Overall size: 585
Bore: c-hole 13.4; f-hole 13.4
Conical part: 110
Technical description: Boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keywork. Six pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, middle section for the fingers of the right hand, lower section with keys, bell. Long tenon ebony mouthpiece grooved for cord. English-style flask shaped barrel. Square wooden rings strengthened with pins. Speaker liner projects almost to the centre of the bore. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a bell-shaped swelling. Zig-zag F♯3/C♯5 lever guided in a rudiment of a square wooden ring. Bevelled G♯3/E♭5 touchpiece.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T.
L3: T.
L4: E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T.
R2: T.
R3: T.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: flat square.
Keymount type: Turned wooden rings, swelling.
Inscribed on all pieces except for unstamped mouthpiece "H. WREDE / LONDON"; on bell unicorn head / H. WREDE / 15 / ST JOHNS . SQUARE / CLERKENWELL / LONDON / C"
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Artwork Details
- Title: Clarinet in C
- Maker: Hermann Wrede
- Date: ca. 1815–30
- Geography: London, England, United Kingdom
- Culture: British
- Medium: Boxwood, ivory, brass
- Dimensions: L. 58.9 cm (23-1/4 in,)
- Classification: Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-single reed cylindrical
- Credit Line: Gift of William J. Maynard, 1997
- Object Number: 1997.219.10
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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Hermann Wrede
ca. 1837–40
Érard
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ca. 1840
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