Keyed Monochord
about 1890 (Made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The keyed-monochord (literally 'one string') is fitted with one large string (often of horse-hair), and played partly with key-operated blades, rather like a clavichord, and partly with a bow. Its oval body rests on a stand. J. Pousette of France invented the keyed monochord (or monochorde à clavier) in 1883 and intended it for church music.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved and planed pine body and stand; pine keyboard; ivory-covered naturals; ebony sharps. |
| Brief description | Keyed monochord, pine sound-box, French, about 1890. |
| Physical description | "The instrument, which is mounted on a central stand, consists of a narrow box of pine containing a key action, fixed by iron brackets to a longitudinal central member. On the right is an oval soundbox of pine, with two C-shaped soundholes with central nicks, placed back to back, and with a knob-like peg for tuning the single string, which passes over a bridge and runs through the keybox. The string is sounded with a separate bow. On the front of the keybox is a three-octave keyboard with twenty-two ivory natural keys and fifteen sharps. The keys actuate brass levers which strick and stop the string in the manner of the keys of a clavichord'. - Anthony Baines, Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments (London, 1998), pp. 27 - 28. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | KEYED MONOCHORD
French; about 1886
Pine soundboard and ivory naturals. The instrument has a range of three octaves.
Non-Keyboard Catalogue No.: 6/7
The Monocorde Clavier was invented by J. Pousset in 1883 and first built in 1886, being intended for churches. The string, usually of horse hair is sounded by a bow and brass tangents that were activated by the keys, like a clavichord.
W.38-1917
Bequeathed by Henry Saint-George, Esq.(pre September 2000) |
| Credit line | Given to the Museum by Henry Saint-George, Esq. |
| Object history | This instrument was given to the museum by Henry Saint-George, in 1917. |
| Summary | The keyed-monochord (literally 'one string') is fitted with one large string (often of horse-hair), and played partly with key-operated blades, rather like a clavichord, and partly with a bow. Its oval body rests on a stand. J. Pousette of France invented the keyed monochord (or monochorde à clavier) in 1883 and intended it for church music. |
| Bibliographic reference | Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), pp. 27 - 28. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.38-1917 |
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| Record created | May 16, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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