Curtals

I make the full range of curtals from the soprano to the octave bass.

 

Soprano

My soprano instrument is an improved version of Graham Lyndon Jones’s model. It is based on the Augsburg alto, no key but the left hand little finger covers a hole in the up bore.

Alto in g

Based on the Augsburg alto, no keys but the left hand little finger covers a hole in the ascending bore.

Alto in F

Has two keys and is based on the Berlin open instrument.

Tenor in c

Is based on the Berlin open instrument.

Basses

My basses at a’=460/465 Hz are copies, the 440 instruments are scaled versions:

Augsburg
Merano
Berlin, open
Frankfurt
 

Quart bass

A copied and scaled version of the Augsburg instrument.

 

   

 


  

Quint bass

Inventories of instruments dating from the 16th and 17th centuries indicate the existence and use of quint bass curtals in Graz (1590) and Kassel (1613). All surviving museum instruments seem to be quart bass curtals. A quint bass curtal is especially useful for accompanying vocal music. For this reason, Graham Lyndon Jones developed a quint bass as a scaled version of a Bassano quart bass curtal. I followed Graham’s design for this model. It is built in two parts, plus bell. Woodcarvings as on many Bassano instruments are optional. My instrument can be heard on the CD “Benevolo, Le concert spirituel ,Alpha 2018” 

At closer inspection, the great bass instrument in Frankfurt (no. 4256), which is labelled as a quart bass curtal, is in fact a quint bass curtal. Due to its narrow bore, it plays lower than most of the curtals of the same length. The instrument was built in the beginning of the 17th century, probably in 1626 by Hußgatt. It was used by the “Städtische Kapellmusik at the Barfüßerkirche. The original is built in three  parts, which are glued together and covered with leather. I build the instrument in one part plus bell. Decorations, as on the original, are optional.
 

Octave bass

A copied and scaled version of the Augsburg instrument.

I preferably make the smaller instruments from the wood of fruit trees like pear, white beam or service wood. The larger ones are made from sycamore, maple or field maple.
Quart, quint and octave basses can be made either in a one or two piece construction.

Don’t hesitate to inquire about instruments not mentioned in this list.
 

For the prices of the instruments please consider the current price list .