Cornet-trompe in D 1857 - 1867

Editor: Here we have Alphonse Sax’s “Cornet-trompe in D,” crafted from bronze and other metals between 1857 and 1867. The way the tubing loops and curves is so mesmerizing, almost defying what a musical instrument *should* look like. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: I see more than just an object; I see a statement about musical innovation and bourgeois culture in mid-19th century France. Sax was, if you will, an instrument "influencer." The politics surrounding musical instruments were complex, linked to nationalism, industrialization, and the rise of concert halls as public spaces. Consider that access to playing in a civic band or orchestra meant more than just musical fulfillment— it represented social status and upward mobility. What role might Sax's inventions play in this new social dynamic? Editor: So it's not just about the instrument itself, but who gets to play it, and where? It's almost like a visual representation of a changing social hierarchy! Did the material play a part too? Curator: Precisely. The choice of bronze, with its associations with classical sculpture and civic monuments, elevates the status of the instrument and by extension, the musician. It is a symbol that would certainly resonate in a society fascinated with self-image and performativity. What about you - has your understanding of its impact changed? Editor: Definitely. I was so focused on the visual, I missed the deeper implications about class and cultural aspiration. Thinking about it as a status symbol in musical form – brilliant! Curator: That’s exactly how material culture functions; seemingly benign everyday things communicate and impact in various powerful and often unexpected ways.