Flügelhorn (valve bugle) in B-flat 1849 - 1855

Editor: So this is a flügelhorn in B-flat, made of metal and bronze between 1849 and 1855 by Johann David Christian Loeschhorn. The burnished surface makes it appear as though it has stories to tell. What do you see in this piece, considering its context? Curator: Beyond its functionality as a musical instrument, the flügelhorn speaks volumes about class, identity, and power structures in mid-19th century Germany. Think about who would have had access to musical instruments during that time. What kinds of cultural performances were taking place and who was being excluded? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered. I was focused on the craft. It feels very… bourgeois, somehow. Curator: Exactly! This wasn't just a folk instrument. This was about solidifying cultural identity, especially at a time of growing nationalism. How might access to, or performance with, this flügelhorn have reinforced social hierarchies? Was it potentially a tool for creating and maintaining these differences, whether intentionally or unintentionally? Editor: So, by possessing an item such as this, does one solidify a national identity and, potentially, signal a commitment to particular social strata? Curator: Precisely. Now, imagine the sounds it made within specific social spaces…think of what those sonic vibrations may evoke on their own. These materials speak, literally and figuratively, about German society during a volatile time of revolutions and budding imperial expansion. Editor: I’ll definitely remember to think about the broader implications when assessing artworks from now on! Curator: Glad to hear. Every artwork holds historical reverberations!