Bass Saxhorn in B-flat 1858 - 1875

Editor: So, this is a photo of a Bass Saxhorn in B-flat, dating from 1858 to 1875, made of metal, and the maker’s mark shows it was done by W.I. Seefeldt. I am immediately drawn to its coiled shape—it's sort of elegant, yet industrial at the same time. What stories do you think this instrument could tell? Curator: Ah, the Saxhorn. A robust instrument, meant for open air, for parades, for the *boom* of civic pride! Think of the brass bands of the mid-19th century, spreading across America. Now, what kind of person, do you imagine, would be holding it? What tunes would they be belting out, in your mind's ear? Editor: Someone confident and powerful! Maybe leading a march for… oh, I don’t know, maybe suffrage? Or celebrating the end of the Civil War. How about the metal it's made of, does that tell a story too? Curator: Absolutely! That gleaming metal speaks of industrialization, mass production, a society finding its voice. It suggests not just music, but also a certain social ambition, a push to forge new paths...it represents sonic booms announcing new beginnings and a fresh spirit finding melody. It begs a thought – has such progress kept tune over the years, I wonder? Editor: That makes me look at it in a completely new way! I guess instruments aren't just for music; they also mirror the society and culture surrounding them. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! I learned as well… to hear this instrument again through new ears!