HANDBOOK OF THE COLLECTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 39 



tively, one-half inch and 1 inch longer than the one in the instru- 

 ment (95298). It has a conical bore with six finger holes and two 

 brass keys. There are two holes also in the bell. The mouth tube 

 is a tapering brass straight tube inserted in the upper end. An in- 

 teresting " hautbois or discant Schalmey " from Amsterdam, made 

 in the last half of the eighteenth century, is stamped with the maker's 

 name — E. Terton ; above this is a crown and below it the lion of the 

 Netherlands. This specimen is 208185. 



The bassoon is the natural bass to the oboe and similar reed in- 

 struments. The English and French name (bassoon) is derived 

 from its low pitch, and the Italian and German names (fagotto, 

 fagott) come from its resemblance to a faggot or bundle of sticks. 

 The bassoon consists of five pieces, named, respectively, the crook, 

 wing, butt, long joints, and bell. When fitted together these form 

 a hollow cone about 8 feet long, the internal measurement of a bas- 

 soon of the old philharmonic pitch being 93 inches. The bending 

 of the instrument reduced the actual length to a little more than 4 

 feet. The scale of the instrument is " complicated and capricious," 

 but the musical value of the instrument is very great. One specimen 

 is exhibited (219091), obtained in Italy. Its length is 37 1 / 4 inches. 



Attention is directed to a " cromorna alto in C" (216389), which 

 has a double reed like a bassoon and seven finger holes. It is covered 

 with leather and the tube is straight except the lower end, which is 

 bent in almost a half circle. This specimen is a reproduction of an 

 Italian instrument made in England during the sixteenth century, 

 and was obtained from Rev. F. W. Galpin, of Hatfield Vicarage, 

 Harlow, England. 



Numerous specimens of instruments with double reeds from 

 Asiatic countries are exhibited. None are more interesting than 

 96655 and 96656, which were presented to the Museum by John B. 

 Henderson. These instruments are part of an entire Chinese orches- 

 tra obtained by Mr. Henderson in Pekin. Others of the series are 

 exhibited in other sections. 



A double reed of palm leaf characterizes 54055, and the outside 

 of the tube is ornamented with metal spheres. The Chinese haut- 

 bois (95827, pi. 175) is of rosewood and the double reed is made 

 from a stalk of grass. An extra double reed is with this instrument. 

 Another Chinese oboe is 54058, a gift of the Chinese Imperial Cen- 

 tennial Committee in 1876. Siamese instruments of this class are 

 4001, 54067, and 54068, and a Korean hautbois is 95212, its mouth- 

 piece a tapering brass tube with a double reed made of a stalk of 

 grass or cereal. A circular flat disk of metal on the mouth tube 

 forms the guard plate. The bell is of brass and is loose on the tube. 

 Two Malay hautbois are 95934 and 94935, the former having its 

 double reed made from a stalk of grass or cereal. Another Malay 



