Treble Recorder in F
Catalogue number: 1.4
Original name: Treble recorder in F.
Place of origin: England, c.1780. This recorder is its maker’s only known specimen.
Overall size: 495mm total length: Head joint: 189.3mm; main joint: 204.1mm; foot joint: 101.3mm.
Sounding length: 438.2mm.
Bore: Head joint: 18mm; main joint: 18mm - 14.3mm; foot joint: 14.3mm - 12.5mm.
Technical description: three sections of a light wood, possibly box. String on tenons. Seven finger holes, one thumb hole. It seems to prefer Hotteterre fingering
Finger-holes |
Diameter |
Distance from foot (distance to hole centres) |
|
Left-hand, thumb: |
5.8mm |
291.1mm |
|
Left hand, first finger: |
5.7mm |
272.8mm |
|
Left hand second finger: |
5.8mm |
246.0mm |
|
Left hand third finger: |
5.8mm |
211.3mm |
|
Right hand, first finger: |
5.8mm |
172.6mm |
|
Right hand, second finger: |
5.4mm |
141.0mm |
|
Right hand, third finger: |
5.0mm |
110.6mm |
|
Right hand, fourth finger: |
5.3mm |
79.2mm |
Inscription: Stamped on all three joints: “FOLEY”/ [motif: a fan or plume shape within a square].
Faults: Slightly warped and there is quite a large chip off the foot-joint (not affecting the bore). Slight damage to lip.
Usable pitch: Plays at a’ = 420 Hz.
Performance characteristics: The instrument has an unfocussed tone with a breathy quality, probably due to the damage to the lip. The two octave range is considerably contracted, ie the distance between f’ and f’’’ is much too narrow.
The middle part of the range is relatively usable, eg from g’ to d’’. However, even here, g’’ is very sharp and requires the addition of finger 4 all the time. F’’ is also sharp and requires finger 5 or possibly 4 all the time.
Specific references: This instrument is listed in the New Langwill Index. It is the only known instrument by Foley.
Recording references: Click here
Illustration references: See below
Previous owner: Mrs A Scott-James. Donated to Birmingham School of Music, 1936.
Previous collection numbers: A: item 15.
Gallery of Images
