Keyed monochord, pine sound-box, French, about 1890.

"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.

Given to the Museum by Henry Saint-George, Esq.

This instrument was given to the museum by Henry Saint-George, in 1917.

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.

W.38-1917