Chalumeau
The Chalumeau ( pronunciation: [ ʃalymo ː ] ) (. Pl. Chalumeaux - from double Chalumeau, " shawm / reed instrument ", which dates back to ancient Greek κάλαμος kalamos " stalk tube ", Italian Salmoè, Scialumò and the like ) is a woodwind instrument with single reed. It is related to the clarinet, which was developed from the Chalumeau.
The instrument has a cylindrical tube, seven permanent front finger holes and one thumb hole. The range of historical Chalumeau is a major ninth. Since the beginning of the 18th century usually two flaps were added to extend the range up to an eleventh. It was not overblown, but built for different voice types in different sizes in f / c mood. The Chalumeau sounds an octave lower than Recorders equal length. The sound is softer and more open than that of a clarinet.
The Chalumeau must be distinguished from the etymologically related double-reed instrument shawm.
History
The term Chalumeau / shawm has been used since the Middle Ages for reed instruments with double and single reed. Marin Mersenne used in his Harmonie Universelle ( 1636) the term inter alia, for two simple instruments from straws and for the chanter of the bagpipe ( with double reed, with him also cornemuse called ). As chalumeau eunuque he called a Mirliton.
The instruments from straws get their sound-producing tongue by an upward cut in the stalk. With the help of finger holes can vary the pitch. It is ideoglotte pipes, the simplest form of single-reed instruments, as they are known today in many musical traditions of Europe, Asia and North Africa. Their history goes back to ancient times.
As an instrument with a single reed flötenartigem body and the Chalumeau is detectable only at the end of the 17th century. The Chalumeau is thus only slightly older than the clarinet, which was developed at the beginning of the 18th century. Johann Christoph Denner (1655-1707), the usually the invention of the clarinet is attributed, has improved by a biographical statement of 1730 also Chalumeau.
Originally a form seemingly had instruments that were used in the last decade of the 17th century in England under the name Mock trumpet. For them, the reed was cut down by a section of the pipe ( ideoglott ). This form also appears to have a picture of Reynvaan (1795 ). Unfortunately, no instrument of this type is obtained. The eight received Chalumeaux have mouthpieces where a slamming reed is attached ( heteroglott ).
The instruments were built in different sizes for the different vocal ranges and in different moods. For larger tools flaps were added to facilitate gripping. Usually two opposite flaps were attached to expand the vocal range upwards below the mouthpiece. For the upper register, the scope is f1 to a2 indicated ( rarely blow to c3 ), for alto a quart including (c1 - f2). Tenor and bass are each an octave lower. Whether surviving large-scale instruments with bassoon -like kinked pipe are to be regarded as sub-bass instruments of the chalumeau choir, is controversial. The G tuning is mentioned frequently, but other fundamental tones are possible.
At the door assembly of an obtained chalumeau can be seen that the sheet was attached to the top of the instrument, was so touched when playing the upper lip.
The lexicographers to mid-18th century to describe the sound of the instrument not very favorable, " as if a man through his teeth sing " ( Walther, 1708), " something howling symphony " ( Mattheson, 1713). In the Encyclopédie of Diderot and D' Alembert le Rond the sound is described as unpleasant and wild when it is played from an ordinary musician. Only later judgments fall from positive: "The tone has the same so many interesting, peculiar, infinitely pleasant that the whole scale of music would have a noticeable gap when this instrument would be lost " ( Schubart 1784/85 ).
In the 18th century Chalumeau and clarinet existed side by side and were perceived as different instruments. Chalumeaux had a broader leaf and served for the lower register. Clarinets had a narrower blade, a displaced upwards thumb hole with metal sleeve ( Überblasloch ) and were used for the higher register. The clarinet also differed by pear and open horn of the straight design of the Chalumeau. With the advancement of the deep register of the clarinet the Chalumeau from the orchestra was ousted.
Music of the 18th Century
In the High and Late Baroque, the Chalumeau was (temporarily) input into bourgeois and courtly music. The earliest surviving works are duets for " Mocktrumpet " at the beginning of the 18th century in England. This, written for music-loving laity pieces imitate especially the fanfare-like sound of the trumpet.
In the German-speaking Chalumeau was used in the court orchestra. Two main points can be identified: In the first third of the century he was the Vienna Opera ( Fux, G. and A. Bononcini, Caldara, Gluck later ). Here the sound of the Chalumeau was in pastoral scenes and used to express delicate and intimate feelings. The Sopranchalumeau predominates. In the second third of the century the use in Telemann and Graupner mainly forms a second focus. Set the instrument usually in pairs, which lower altitudes emerge preferred. Virtuoso passages are rare. In Telemann's Passion ( 1728) " Blissful Consider " the Tenorchalumeau appears in the aria "It is finished" in hochemotionalem context.
The Chalumeau among others soloist is used by the following composers:
Agostino Steffani (1654-1728); Johann Joseph Fux (1660-1741) Concerto f organ, Diskantchal. and strings; Attilio Ariosti (1666-1729); Antonio Caldara (1670-1736); Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Concerto f Oboe, Chal, Vln, 3 Viole all'inglese B Minor.; Sonata f Oboe, Vln, organ and Chalumeau ad lib. C major; Psalm 126 f Sopr., 2 altos, viola d' amore, 2 Trumscheite, tenor Chal, Vcl, organ and strings.. ; Giovanni Battista Bononcini (1670-1747); Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745) Lamentatio II Holy Saturday f Alt, Vln, Chal. , Bassoon ub c. ; Johann Friedrich Fasch (1688-1758); Concerto f soprano Chal. and Strings in B flat major; Christoph Graupner (1683-1760), among others Concerto f Tenor & Bass Chal. F Major, Concerto for 2 Chal. D Minor, Concerto f Chal. and Bassoon, Concerto v. Chal. , Oboe, Viola B Major, Ouverture f 3 Chal. C Major, Ouverture f Chal. and Bassoon and Strings, Trio Viola d' amore, Chal. and Strings, Bassoon Trio and Chal. C Major, suites; Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) Sonata for 2 Chal. F major, Concerto for 2 Chal. f in D Minor, Concerto Flute, Oboe, Chal. and Strings in G major, Symphony " Il Grillo "; Johann Adolf Hasse (1699-1783) Concerto f Oboe and Chal. F major, sonata f Chal, oboe and bassoon.; Giuseppe Antonio Paganelli (1710-1763) Concerto f soprano Chal. B flat major; Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754-1812) Concerto f soprano Chal F Major.
Chalumeau today
A few years ago the Chalumeau was rediscovered and it is " reinvented " been. Different versions have different purposes. On the one hand instruments to historical performance practice for the music of the 17th and 18th centuries to be built. On the other hand, the instrument of folk and medieval formations is prized for its playability and its characteristic sound.
Finally, mechanisms have been developed for instrumental education to prepare for the transition from recorder to clarinet or saxophone. In most cases here a modern clarinet mouthpiece is connected to a recorder body. These tools will be very different names sold (soprano clarinet, clarinet children, Clarineau, Pocket Clarineau or - Chalumeau, Saxonett, sudden smile clarinet ). There are types with and without flaps, some with speaker key, in different moods.
Even the invented as a " pocket sax " Xaphoon with bamboo body and corresponding instruments made of plastic or wood ( Woodensax ) are to be considered Chalumeaux. A combination of clarinet mouthpiece and the metal body of the tin whistle is offered as Highland Hornpipe.