Double Horn in F / B-flat 1904 - 1919

This Double Horn in F / B-flat was crafted by Eduard Kruspe sometime in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, I love how Kruspe coaxes this beautiful form out of brass. Look at how the light catches on the curves, almost like brushstrokes. The surface has this incredible patina, a kind of golden, aged glow that speaks to the history of its use. It’s impossible to know for sure, but I would guess that each imperfection is a testament to a life well played! I keep coming back to the valves at the top. Those smooth, silver rectangles jut out. They remind me of ivory piano keys, like a little staircase you climb to make music happen. It makes me wonder what the relationship is between music and visual art. Maybe it all comes down to tone, texture, and touch. Thinking about this piece, I keep thinking of Duchamp's readymades, which took everyday objects and turned them into art. Kruspe’s horn might have the same quality, if Duchamp had been a brass musician!