Harmonie-bass

The harmonie-bass was devised for playing in outdoor harmonie (wind band) ensembles. Loud bass wind instruments were a historical lacuna in the orchestra and wind band. Spurred on by the mechanical developments of the Second Industrial Revolution, instrument makers and inventors worked throughout the nineteenth century to devise instruments to fill this void. Taking the bassoon and contrabassoon as a starting point, makers worked to develop a robust double reed instrument that could endure the rigors of outdoor use in military bands and harmonie ensembles. They also incorporated newly devised key mechanisms and systems that made fingerings easier and more logical. This resulted in a group of metal double reed instruments of similar design by rival makers. The harmonie-bass was the earliest of these instruments. Subsequent iterations included the tritonicon, and the sarrusophone. The same technologies and motivations also shaped the development of bass brass instruments, including the ophicleide, and single reed instruments, most notably the saxophone.

Technical description

Harmonie-bass in D made of brass with white metal ferrules, keywork and garnishes. The instrument comprises four sections: body, bell, crook, bocal/mouthpiece receiver. The mouthpiece receiver is not original and is configured to take a brass instrument mouthpiece, allowing the instrument to be played in the manner of an ophicleide. The original bocal would have been designed for use with a double reed similar to that of the contrabassoon. The instrument has 15 keys with simple lever action, each engraved with a note name. All keys with the exception of one (D) stand in the closed position. The configuration of the instrument with two upright tubes (rather than the more compact tritonicon form with three upright tubes) and its key system identify it as a harmonie-bass of the type invented by Johann Stehle of Vienna in 1838. The instrument is equipped with a sling ring, hand supports, and a fitting for a lyre/music card holder. A wooden case is also present. This is not original and was made by the instrument’s last owner.

Bradley Strauchen-Scherer