F. van Cauwelaert
"Gantois" Model Single Horn
 
 
Label:
     F. VAN CAUWELAERT 
            BREVETÉ 
          BRUXELLES
Model:
single, with terminal crooks, "Gantois"
Serial Number:
none
Date of Manufacture:
ca. 1890
Key(s):
 F (other terminal crooks as available) 
Valves:
3 Périnet piston
Bore:
 10.6 mm
Bell Flare:
original gusset, replaced with spun flare 
Bell Throat:
approx. 8 cm.
Bell Diameter:
24.4 cm.
Base Metal:
brass 
Finish:
raw brass


The Van Cauwelaert family of brass wind instrument makers flourished in Brussels from 1846 to about 1955, although the exact relationship among the several generations is not known. Ferdinand-Joseph Van Cauwelaert (1808-1884) established his brass instrument workshop in Brussells 1846.

Ferdinand Van Cauwelaert


Maison Van Cauwelaert, ca. 1900 (click to enlarge)

The Van Cauwelaert horns were certainly the most popular choice among Belgian horn players for over seventy-five years, during the second half of the nineteenth century into the 1930s. This is the "Gantois" model, so called by Edmond Leloir, because of its popularity among players in Ghent. It requires a terminal crook which distinguishes it from the fixed leadpipe model used in Liège. The horn has several expert repair patches and the valves are well worn, probably indicating that its owner used it extensively and regarded it worth continued maintenance.   The original gussett bell flare has been replaced by a spun flare(see below). The original set of crooks has been lost; the F terminal crook shown above right is a reproduction by Richard Seraphinoff. The valve slides can probably be used with crooks pitched from at least D to A.  The three Périnet piston valves are sprung from the bottom.  The valve tops ("buttons") are also restoration replacements by Richard Seraphinoff. This horn plays beautifully and has a very light sweet tone, characteristic of the small-bore french design.


The original label is on the the bell tail.  Early labels were engraved in script. Typeset labels were introduced in the late 1880s by the "frères and soeurs" after the death of their father, Ferdinand. The original gussett bell flare has been replaced by a spun flare which is crudely engraved "Mathieux Alargale", possibly either the name of the repair person a previous owner of the horn.
The dapper anonymous player shown above is apparently very proud of mastering a difficult etude on his Van Cauwelaert Gantois horn. This model was also popular in military bands (see right).

Image courtesy of Pierre Dubar (click to enlarge>



Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Jeroen Billiet for his excellent dissertation 200 Years of Belgian Horn School? and to Pierre Dubar for sharing the above image from his collection.

References

Billiet, Jeroen. 200 Years of Belgian Horn School?, a Comprehensive Study of the Horn in Belgium, 1789-1960, a Dissertation for the Approval of a Laureate Program at the Orpheus Institute, Ghent, Belgium, 2008,
See: WWW.CORECOLE.BE

Haine, Malou; Meeùs, Nicolas; Mardaga, Pierre, ed. Dictionnaire des facteurs d'instruments de musique en Wallonie et à Bruxelles du 9e siècle à nos jours, Editions Mardaga, 1986

Waterhouse, William. The New Langwill Index, A Dictionary of Musical Wind-Instrument Makers and Inventors. London: Tony Bingham, 1993. ISBN0-946113-04-1




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