Hautbois de Poitou

In his 'Harmonie Universelle' of 1637 Marin Mersenne describes a consort of wind instruments with windcap called Hautbois de Poitou.According to his treatise there was a soprano instrument in C , an alto in F and a bass in FF with extension to B flat**. He also describes a bagpipe, the Cornemuse de Poitou, whose chanter is identical with the soprano Hautbois de Poitou. His engravings show simply designed instruments. Using Mersenne’s information I have reconstructed a whole consort. Additionally I made a copy of the Hautbois de Poitou dating from the 18th century which is conserved at the Paris Musée de la Musique (Nr. 154)

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