English horn c. 1850 - 1899

Curator: Standing before us is an English horn dating from the latter half of the 19th century. The body is crafted primarily from wood, accented with an intricate system of metal keys. Editor: It strikes me as… elegant, almost melancholic in its stillness. The way the light catches on the metalwork, juxtaposed against the dark wood… it whispers stories of a bygone era. Curator: Indeed. Think about the artisan who made this. The selection of materials, the precision required in carving the wood and assembling the delicate key mechanism…it speaks to specialized knowledge within craft guilds, particularly their mastery of precision required by musical instruments in the late 1800s. Editor: Absolutely. And how did these instruments shape soundscapes of their time, playing perhaps at a time when empires were collapsing and new ideologies were beginning? Considering the colonial context, where was it crafted, for whom and where was it played? Who had the means to produce such intricate pieces, and what narratives did they weave into existence? This instrument exists not only in the space of musicality but as a site where ideas of class, colonialism and progress came together to resonate outward. Curator: That's a fascinating way to look at it. From a maker's standpoint, this English horn would require various forms of highly-skilled labor. Access to specialized woods, the metal-crafting required for the keys, the intricate knowledge needed to combine it into a sound producing instrument... Each of these labor forces creates distinct systems and forms of musical social engagement that it can impact. Editor: And imagine the concert halls or private salons where this horn might have been played. Was it performing works of a particular nationalistic leaning? A form of subtle cultural assertion through composition? We can perhaps read an object such as this as more than simply beautiful—but see that instruments of that time shaped experiences and worldviews too. Curator: Thinking about materiality, the specific properties of that wood impact not only the instrument’s tone but also its durability and how labor transforms the natural form of the wood in tandem with metal to create an entirely different entity. Each metal key needed, how this was shaped, how these create standardized musical pieces that can later translate between people to facilitate a mass communication tool. Editor: The dialogue it fosters—between performer, composer, and listener, and ourselves! So, yes, an old instrument now, but carrying countless implications within its form. Curator: Looking closely here, I appreciate more the work required. A transformation process for materials as it echoes sounds from its production period that continue to impact contemporary practices.