MIRN-UK

MIRN member, Paulo Santiago, writes to ask whether anyone can supply any further information about the maker and model of his harmonium inscribed: V. Mauprety – pianos and orgues – Paris.  So far, we know that Vincent-Joseph Mauprety traded from several different addresses in Paris between c.1870 and 1888, and a contemporary listing from the Annuaire-almanach du commerce, de l’industrie… of 1871 can be viewed at http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k9764746t/f1145.image . The other information that has been gained about him comes from this online site http://www.lieveverbeeck.eu/Pianos_francais_m.htm . Mauprety is not mentioned in Gellerman’s International Reed Organ Atlas (2^nd edition)(Lanham, MD, USA, 1998) nor in Arthur WJG Ord-Hume’s book Harmonium: the History of the Reed Organ and its Makers (London, 1986).

The UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is beginning a consultation on banning sales of ivory. MIRN wishes to state its unconditional support for all reasonable measures that protect endangered species. Nevertheless, such a ban, if applied heavy-handedly, could have unintended consequences impacting on the trade, repair and restoration of historic musical instruments in this country. The Government has indicated that there could be certain exemptions introduced for musical instruments. You can read more about the Government’s proposals here  (scroll to the PDF documents right at the bottom of the page) and can also contribute your views through their survey or by writing to them at IvoryConsultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk. Please make your views known. At MIRN’s AGM (12th October) it was agreed that, following consultation with members, the Chair should submit a response to the consultation. Any member who wishes to contribute to MIRN’s response should write to the Chair via MIRN’s enquiries email by 1st December 2017. enquiries@mirn.org.uk

MIRN member, George Diehl, has asked for information on Cromwell, possibly a French celeste maker of the second half of the 19th century. He has an instrument with the name ‘Cromwell’ on the front board and the name and number ‘CAPRA 192’ stamped on the keyframe under the keys. Please post your replies to ‘enquiries@mirn.org.uk’ .

Margaret Birley, Keeper of Musical Instruments at the Horniman Museum writes:

There are many different classification systems for musical instruments. The classification system that is cited for musical instruments on the MIRN website is the Hornbostel Sachs system as revised by Jeremy Montagu and MIMO which is widely used by museums. However, the existence of other classification systems should be indicated. … I would suggest … Margaret Kartomi’s On Concepts and Classifications of Musical Instruments (Chicago, 1990), which provides a wide-ranging overview of musical instrument classifications.