The San Francisco call., 1897-04-25
EXPENSIVE BRASS BANDS.
Over Ton Thousand Dollars for . Jew.
eled Cornet.

over Ion lhOuSan0 DOLLARS 1Or JeWs
eled Cornet.
The writer was recently accorded the
privilege of peep into the museum at.
tached to the factory of one of the largest
firms of brass instrument makers In Lon.
don. Here are to be seen types, fac-similes
and models of every kind of musical in
strument that the mind of man has ever
devised, invented or produced.
In one corner Is duplicate of what is
believed to be the most costly presenta-
tion cornet ever produced. 1t was made
to the order of the late Car of Russia, and
is of sterling silver, richly craven with va
riousi devices among which the arms OF
the imperial house OF Romapoff figure
conspicuously.
The whole of the ornamentation is of
beaten gold filigrce work, and the 'belP'
OF the instrument is thickly inc usted
with rubes and emeralds. Its net value
is trifie over 1000 guneas.
A melancholy interest attaches to a bat
tered and biood-stained bugIe which was
picked up on the field of Isandiwana. In
addition to the dark pa,ches-which were
once splashes of wet blood-sundry frag-
ments OF woolly hair were adherlng to the
bell OF the instrument when first found, q
pretty conclusive indication that the gal
liant owner baG used it in q last desperate
effort 10 beat off his relentless foes. 1t may
be that some ebony-skinned Zulu still
wanders about with an indentation in his
skull whom il would be difficult to con-
vince that Emusic hath charms"
Near 10 this interesting relic is fac
simile of set of drums W hicn were made
for the new Rhodesia Horse. The peculi-
arity lies in the fact that the cases are OF
aluminium. precautlOn rendered neces-
sary by the number of white ants that in
fest that country. The other instruments
are OF brass, silver plated, and the whole
band costs some $3.50
The above is, OF course, a com paratlvely
modest turnout. For real gorgeousness in
brass bands it is necessary to inspect some
OF the costly and magnificent sets of in
struments turned out for Eastern poten-
tates. The bands of even the smartest of
our crack cavalry corps are absolutely not
in il, so lar as elegance of appearance is
concerned, with the private bands of some
of the Indian tributary Princes, although
probably the latter would have 10 give the
former several points if it came to
al usical contest between them.
The private band of the Rao of Clutch,
Tor instance, cost originally $500 and
renews most of the instruments every four
or five years. The tiger skin used by the
Rao's big drummer, which was sent
over here to be prepared and mounted,
Hlghness, ana measured over seven
feet in length. 1t is lined through
out with heavy corded crimson silk,
and the brutes 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 were of pure
sllver-whlch, Dy the way, does not give
forth SO good a sound as brass, besides
being heavier TO handle-inlaid with gold.
The total cost OF this band de luxe was q
trif1e under 5000 guineas. very differ
ent kind of band was that made last year.
by the same firm, for the Mimkish In.
dams. a trib be of savages living near Alert
Bay, in British Coum bia. The band is
nearly all drum, and the mouthpleees es of
tho few brass instruments are tipped with
lndiarubber, to obviate the Inconvenience
OF applying metal TO the lips in tenn
perature of some thirty or iorty degrees
below zero
A curious offer was received a short
! time ago from the Emperor of Morocco.
1t was for eighty clarionets for one band.
AS the instruments in question were all in
one key, it is probable that they were 10
be played in unison. The effect upon an
average man of eighty band carIonets
blown simultaneously would proba bly, be
10 create III him wild desire to take to
the woods and become an aborigine. Even
TO imagine such an ear-percing com BIZ
nation sets ones tympanum quIvering.-
Answers.