An investigation of a Baroque musette bourdon using micro-computed tomography

Journal article

The drone system or bourdon of the aristocratic French bagpipe, the Baroque musette, is an extraordinary invention. Neatly contained within a cylinder of ivory or ebony typically and approximately 15cm long and 3cm in diameter are a number of longitudinal bores drilled in extreme proximity. Most are grouped and joined serially to provide longer sounding lengths. The example under discussion has 14 bores with provision for five reeds, arranged to create discrete drones configurable in several tonalities. The skill required to effect such function within a relatively tiny volume is impressive indeed and the methods are not without risk of error. The sophisticated manufacture of such an item results in many concealed features, particularly in the arrangement of the connecting cross bores, and on some bourdons these are largely invisible, depending on the methods used whether external, or internal as with the present example which has survived apparently undisturbed. This paper describes the investigation of such a bourdon using microComputed Tomography, noting a number of findings which would otherwise be virtually impossible without this technique. In particular it describes the internal positional information retrieved, as well as evidence of errors encountered during manufacture, together with the maker’s remedial measures to correct these. Additionally, the paper speculates on the probable technologies employed to produce this masterpiece of organological miniaturisation.

Authors: Wood, F; Brock, F; Uden, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Galpin Society
• Journal: Galpin Society Journal
• Volume: 71
• Publication date: 2018-04-17
• Acceptance date: 2017-09-08
• ISSN: 0072-0127