International Magazine for Brass Players
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Part 2
Encyclopédie méthodique, Paris 1795
By Anonyme
This "Methodical encyclopedia — arts and crafts" was published in Paris in 1795. In 1984 Editions Minkoff of Geneva rescued from oblivion and published in facsimile Volume IV, which concerns particularly the "Art of the musical instrument maker" (ISBN 2-8266-0295-0). The author — anonymous, unfortunately — describes the instruments in irresistible style.
Who among us is familiar with what I shall gladly call the musical outlook? Instruments are no longer being invented for there are enough already; but many are the discoveries which remain to be made concerning their manufacture.
Material and form are the object of manufacture. How many experiments there are to be made on both!
[...]
The form includes the proportion of solid to void, contours, openings, thicknesses, lengths, widths and depths, chords, strings, keys etc.
[...]
The nomenclature of instruments can also be divided into ancient, modern and foreign. Amongst the ancient instruments are those of the Hebrews, Greeks, Egyptians and Romans. The Hebrew instruments were from the string, wind and percussion families; most are described in a work by Rabbi Abraham Arie de Mutina, a physician by profession. Kircher made use of his research and it is primarily him that we have consulted for this section.
A very great number of depictions of Greek, Egyptian and Roman instruments is to be found on ancient monuments; and it is in accordance with the copies made or brought back by historians and artists that we make these known. [1]
* Our extracts contain the following symbols: the number of the page from which the extract is taken — [23]; phrases or paragraphs omitted — [...].
Brass Bulletin 55, III / 1986 pages 20–21
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