Solophon 1880 - 1890

This is a Solophon made by Becker. The cultural associations of music in shaping identities and social practices would have been well understood at the time this instrument was made. The Solophon is a stringed instrument, and the name suggests its intent as a solo instrument. We can examine the history of musical performance and the development of specific instruments to understand how musical expression intersected with social class, cultural identity, and emerging artistic movements. Was the Solophon intended to allow people without formal music training to perform? The study of this instrument can inform our understanding of nineteenth-century musical culture. Musical instrument collections, performance ephemera, and music criticism of the time, can enrich our picture of the social world of music in the past. Ultimately, the Solophon's purpose is contingent on its historical and social context.