Schellenbaum
The Turkish Crescent, still used in traditional Turkish ensembles, was an important instrument of European Janissary bands during the 18th century. Also adopted by large military bands, it gradually went out of style in the mid-1800s. The instrument is equipped with bells and jingles and was played by shaking it up and down and in a twisting motion to produce jingling sounds. The Muslim crescent and horsetail plumes are emblems of the battlefield.
Technical description: The metal pole fits inside the wood handle. A spring handle makes the entire instrument move more, creating more jingling. The metal pole is surmounted with a brass crescent pointing up. Below the bras crescent is a small ball, and below that are four hooks equally spaced around the pole and each with a metal bell with an internal clapper. Below the hooks is another small ball, and then a very large cone shaped piece with three rows of concentric circles "punched out." Around the bell of this cone are hung twelve more bells, each with an internal clapper. Below the cone is a very large ball decorated with 6 metal stars affixed to the outside. Next is a very large crescent, also pointed upwards, which bears four more internal clapper bells and two horse hair pendants. The horse hair appears to be quite old, although it is difficult to determine if it is original. The final piece of the instrument, at the bottom of the pole just above the handle is a large hemisphered pointing down. The hemisphere has three rows of concentric circles "punched out" and the surface is broken up by creases or folds all around the body. At each of these creases is hung a small pellet bell (crotal).
Technical description: The metal pole fits inside the wood handle. A spring handle makes the entire instrument move more, creating more jingling. The metal pole is surmounted with a brass crescent pointing up. Below the bras crescent is a small ball, and below that are four hooks equally spaced around the pole and each with a metal bell with an internal clapper. Below the hooks is another small ball, and then a very large cone shaped piece with three rows of concentric circles "punched out." Around the bell of this cone are hung twelve more bells, each with an internal clapper. Below the cone is a very large ball decorated with 6 metal stars affixed to the outside. Next is a very large crescent, also pointed upwards, which bears four more internal clapper bells and two horse hair pendants. The horse hair appears to be quite old, although it is difficult to determine if it is original. The final piece of the instrument, at the bottom of the pole just above the handle is a large hemisphered pointing down. The hemisphere has three rows of concentric circles "punched out" and the surface is broken up by creases or folds all around the body. At each of these creases is hung a small pellet bell (crotal).
Artwork Details
- Title: Schellenbaum
- Date: early 19th century
- Geography: Germany
- Culture: German
- Medium: Metal, wood
- Dimensions: H. 5 ft. 2 in.
- Classification: Idiophone-Shaken-jingle
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 89.4.846
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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