Besson music company, a manufacturer of brass instruments besson aircraft, a french aircraft manufacturer of the 1920s1930s particularly float planes. His products quickly gained a great reputation throughout europe. From the gates of aksum weaves freemasonry and european religious and political intrigue into the tapestry of caribbean and south american political history. At least five known examples have been created, all pitched in bbbb, sounding a full octave lower than standard bbb contrabass tubas. Jan 28, 2015 in recent years the quality of besson brass instruments has continued to rise with rigorous testing and quality control.
Most likely it isnt worth having overhauled but it might be worth taking it. Besson trumpets, tubas, euphoniums, trombonnes, cornets. Commander besson was detached from the conway in july 1945 and reported to the staff of commander destroyers pacific fleet as assistant operations officer at pearl harbor. Besson, allier, a commune of the allier departement in france. Besson music company, a manufacturer of brass instruments besson aircraft, a french aircraft manufacturer of the 1920s1930s particularly float planes see also. In the mid seventies john fletcher, worldrenowned tubist helped boosey and hawkes musical instruments develop a new large bore, large bell besson sovereign. Though adolphe sax was one of the first to apply perinet valves to the cornet, besson, gautrot and other makers were also building such instruments by at least the late 1840s and early 1850s. Besson be98210 be98220 sovereign compensating eeb tuba. Formed in 1837, besson always worked with the best craftsmen and strives to put the best brass instruments into your hand. The subcontrabass tuba is an extension of the tuba family within the modern contrabass tuba.
There is at least one other besson trumpet in existence that had belonged to mr. In 1559, besson published a book on extracting oils and. This book gives details of the production and sales of euphoniums, including the. Serial numbers 1569317632 front cover, 1755667 on page 1, initial signaturespages missing 1439615692 and 16144 apparently missing 14 numbers 2 sides besson cornets no. This was an important development in terms of the euphonium becoming a recital instrument and it allowed it to experiment more accurately with alternative ensembles to the brass band. Also, there was a book published by besson entitled brass today edited by frank wright, a leading authority in the british brass band world at the time 1957 this book has a lot of useful information and copies can still be bought from specialist secondhand book dealers. He has a great breadth of knowledge about the time period and production of brass instruments, and has been a valuable source of much information. It is owned by buffet crampon, which bought besson in 2006 from the music group the company was formed in 1837 by gustave auguste besson, who at the age of 18 produced a revolutionary design of cornet which surpassed all contemporary models. While the idea of blowing air through a pipe to create music was nothing new. The history of music in 50 instruments outlines musical history in wellwritten nuggets of information. Brereton and bessons collaboration in the book of trinidad draws together the collective experience of the nations people to put together the colourful mosaic that is, in truth, our national patrimony. The twopart survey combines a discussion of design and construction with a detailed history of the evolution of instruments from earliest times to the present.
Our story in 1981, zigmant kanstul founded kanstul musical instruments, building fine brasswinds both under his own name and for venerable marques like f. Professional prestige 2051 2052 bb professional sovereign 967 968 bb student new standard 163 164 165 bb student new standard 162 bb. Its a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at. Today, renowned musicians around the world rely on the besson brand for their instruments. Adams musical instruments, concert percussion, slagwerk, schlagzeug, are the choice of worldclass soloists, orchestras, composers, and educators alike because the craftsmanship, sound quality, and technical innovations are the highest quality specifications in the world making them truly worldclass instruments. The long model new creation cornet, besides being pleasing to the ear, is beautiful to the eye. These instruments are terrific horns and very much like the current besson sovereign modle 968. His instruments became famous in europe, and he has been accredited with over fifty inventions.
Musical instruments develop a new large bore, large bell besson sovereign. Bridget brereton was a professor of history and the head of the history department at the university of the west indies st. The range includes the popular high end besson sovereign and prestige models, used by top brass players all over the world. This besson is in good overall condition but needs some work. After a brief hiatus from building instruments, besson is back and increasing their share hold of the tuba and. By the 1800s, instrument improvements, such as keys and valves, led to its chromatic use. The book begins in late 18th century portdespagne, trinidad, and is told by several narrators. This big, dark, woody sound that these horns make really fill up a room.
From the raw materials, the skilled techniques of master craftsmen, to the build and finish, each instrument is played and tested by the greatest brass players you will ever hear. Guest articles the euphonium family by david werden. Mar 14, 2014 books of inventions are a littleknown category of renaissance books. These instruments are terrific horns and very much like. This quahty of brass is a secret of the besson firm which no other manufacturer has been able to re prodlace. A new type of book appeared in europe in the late 16th century, representing a genre of literature known as the theater of machines. The brasswind production of marthe bessons london factory. Following its capability of playing any note needed by the composer, it redeemed its rightful place as a dominant musical instrument.
A thorough discussion of the instruments in the euphonium family, covering their history and development, the various types of instruments, and their history of usage. Note the gap in the sequence of serial numbers between 47026 and 47054, some. Of these, the signal success of courtois and besson at the 1855 exposition universelle apparently established these two makers as industry leaders rose. In the grand tradition of the schilke, bach, and conn loyalist pages, and with a respectful nod of the head to olds central, here is all you ever wanted to know about kanstul made besson and french besson trumpets this site is primarily about the modern kanstul made french besson and besson trumpets. Get the best price and selection of besson brass instruments at musicians friend. When wwii started, carl fischer musical instruments lobbied congress to actually ban the french product from importation because of the nazi occupation. Besson and the early history of the perinet valve, galpin society journal lvi. Open quick view dialog for besson be967 sovereign series silver compensating euphonium besson be967 sovereign series silver compensating euphonium 5. However in recent days this instrument is mostly used in concert and marching bands. In recent years the quality of besson brass instruments has continued to rise with rigorous testing and quality control.
Besson brass instruments from the raw materials, the skilled techniques of master craftsmen, to the build and finish, each besson instrument is played and tested by the greatest brass players you will ever hear. It has a seam as seen in all original early besson trumpets, but the same is true of benge mouthpipes made in chicago. Nov 01, 2010 brereton and besson s collaboration in the book of trinidad draws together the collective experience of the nations people to put together the colourful mosaic that is, in truth, our national patrimony. According to the firms archives besson stock books, the instrument was trombone mi. The besson prototype instruments are highly sought by collectors and players due to their beautiful tone. Therese wagenknecht special thanks are given to tra. At the most basic level, a tuba is a brass wind instrument played by blowing air through a pipe.
Smithsonian libraries, natural history building, 10 th st. Kanstul musical instruments nothing resonates like a kanstul. In 1837, gustaveauguste besson 18201874, an acoustic science genius, created the besson brand in paris. And he has been credited with over fifty inventions. Theater of instruments and machines world digital library. An archive of musical instruments manufactured or collected by the company throughout its history was passed to the horniman museum in forest hill, south london. The kanstul story in 1981, zigmant kanstul founded kanstul musical instruments, building fine brasswinds both under his own name and for venerable marques like f. Profiling one instrument at a time, it describes the history of music since the 1700s, when orchestras first took the formal shape familiar to us. Gustave auguste besson18201874 created the besson brand in paris. This type of instrument mainly came out of the uk, and has spread in some capacity to other parts of the world. Theatrum instrumentorum et machinarum iacobi bessoni. A fine musician, bob is versatile on many instruments, including the ophicleide and serpent.
Besson is a manufacturer of brass musical instruments. Due to its limited amount of notes, usage of the natural trumpet started to fade during the classical and romantic periods. Benges besson trumpet robb stewart brass instruments. Since the serial numbers were given out when the instruments were ordered, the dates of adding to stock indicating when they were completed are only approximately chronological. Besson london stock book of cornets for 1891 showing new items added to stock. It is owned by buffet crampon, which bought besson in 2006 from the music group.
Hertfordshire, and the instruments rebranded besson. Their unique brass sound is the one that band players strive for, its personality resonating through band rooms and concert halls. Like most of the modern brass wind instruments the cornet produces the. Natural instruments not numbered clairon chasseur in b.
No one makes a euphonium that more typifies the british euphonium sound than besson. Besson is an established manufacturer of brass musical instrument. This superior study by a leading authority is considered the definitive work on woodwinds. Serial numbers 3805142988 apparently complete besson cornet stock book oct 1889. One of this pair, the only known playable instrument of its kind, is owned by the harvard university band and is still played periodically in concerts. F besson very early silver plated tuba c1895 with bright cut decorationprototype history of maker factory. In its history, besson also produced a number of other brass instruments. At the end of the nineteenth century 1894, the besson factory of london employed 1 workers, producing 100 brass instruments a week and no less than 10 000 musical ensembles appeared on their contract lists. Music for them is written in bass clef sounding a full octave lower than notated. In the grand tradition of the schilke, bach, and conn loyalist pages, and with a respectful nod of the head to olds central, here is all you ever wanted to know about kanstul made besson and french besson trumpets. The 400year story of music told by the instruments that make an orchestra. Open quick view dialog for besson be98210 be98220 sovereign compensating eeb tuba incheckoutpromo. His new cornet revolutionized the concept and has marked minds and hearts even in our time. Get the guaranteed lowest prices on 4 valve besson eb tubas instruments at musicians friend.
Books of inventions are a littleknown category of renaissance books. The earliest forerunner of the euphonium as the tenor voice of the lip and reed. Brereton and besson s collaboration in the book of trinidad draws together the collective experience of the nations people to put together the colourful mosaic that is, in truth, our national patrimony. This book gives details of the production and sales of bombardons in both e and b. Here at normans we offer 0% finance, extended 5 year warranty and free uk shipping on all besson musical instruments. In june 1946 he was detached, served a short time in the office of the deputy chief of naval operations for administration and then reported for duty on the staff of. The first of the theaters was produced by jacques besson circa 154073, a french protestant, born in grenoble, who worked primarily as a mathematics teacher until royal patronage came his way. Many besson brass instruments are eligible for free shipping. Front cover, 1755667 on page 1, initial signaturespages missing 1439615692 and 16144 apparently missing 14 numbers 2 sides besson cornets no. The first two modern instruments were built by besson on the suggestion of american bandmaster john philip sousa, who toured using one in his band from 18961898. It only makes perfect sense then that soloists such as robert van sice, evelyn. Use of serial numbers in dating musical instruments.
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