The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-02-05
EXPENSIVE BRASS BANDS.
Over Ten Thousand Dollars for a
Jeweled COrnet.

The writer was recently accorded the
privilege of peep into the museum at
tached to the factory of one of the EarS-
est firms of brass instrument makers in
London. Here are to be seen types, fac
SMILES and models of every kind of mu-
steal instrument that the mind of man
has ever devised, invented or produced.
In one corner is a duplicate of what
is believed to be the most costly presen-
tation cornet ever produced. 1t was
made to the order of the late Car of
Russia, and is of sterling silver, richly
craven with various devices, among
which the arms of the imperial house of
Romanoff figure conspicuously. Tne
whole of the characterization is of beaten
gold filigree work, and the bell of the
instrument is thickly incrusted with ru-
bies and e1neralds. Its net value is a
tritle oyer 1000 guineas.
A melancholy interest attaches to
battered and blood stained bugle which
was picked up on the field of Isandl-
wanna. In addition to the dark catches
which were once splasheS of wet
blood-sundry fragments of woolly hair
were adhering to the bell of the instru-
ment when first found, a pretty con-
elusive indication that the gallant own
er had used it in d last desperate eff
fort to beat off his relentless foes. 1t
may be that some ebony skinned Zulu
still wanders about with an indenta-
ton in his skull whom it would be
difficult to convince that music hath
charms"
Near to this interesting relic is a
fac-simile of a set of drums which
were made for the new Rhodpsia Horse.
The peculirity lies in the fact that the
cases are of aluminium, a precaution
rendered necessary by the number of
white ants that il1fest that country The
other Instruments are Of brass, silver
plated, and the whole band cost some
t3J0
The above is of course. a compare
lively modest turnout. For real gor
geousnes in brass bands it is necessary
TO inspect some Of the costly and mag
nificent sets of instruments turned out
for Eastern potentates. The bands of
even the smartest Of our crack cavalry
corps are absolutely not in it, so far as
elegance of appearance is concerned.
with the private bands of some of our
Indian tributary princes, although
pGODdDIy lilc idltoI NOulu nave " give
the former several points If ii came 10
musical contest between them.
The private band of the RaO of Clutch,
for instance originally cost 1900, and
reneWs most of the instruments every
four or five years. The tigerskin used
by the Rao'S big drummer, which was
sent over here to be prepared ana
mounted, was taken from an animal
killed by his highness, and measured
over seven feet in length. 1t is lined
throughout with heavy corded crimson
silk. and the brute's eyes are simulated
by pair of big yellow diamonds.
Another very fine band was made
three years ago to the order of the late
Shah of Persia. All the instruments
We're Of pure silver-which, by the way,
does not give forth so good a sound
as brass, besides being heavier to ham
dIe-inlaid with gold. The total cost
Of this band du luxe was trifle under
5000 guineas. \ very different kind of
band was that made last year by the
same firm for the Mimkish Indians, a
tribe Of savaees living near Alert Bay.
in british Columbia The band is near
" all drum. and the mOuthpieces of the
few brass instruments are tipped with
India rubber, to obviate the inconven-
fence Of applying metal TO the lips in a
temperature OF some so or 40 degrees
below zero.
A curiods order was received a short
time ago from the Emperor of Morocco.
It was for eighty clarionets for one
band As the instruments in question
were all in one key. it is probable that
they were to be played in unison. The
effect upon an average man of eighty
band clarionetes blown simultaneously
would probably be to create in him a
wild desire to take to the woods and
become an aborigine. Even to imagine
such an ear-piercing combination sets
ones tympanum quivering.-Answers.-