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The Art of Harmony - hear the instruments
You can listen to two of the instruments from the Horniman Museum's new exhibition by clicking the players below.
Square piano, Longman & Broderip, London c.1795
Compact and inexpensive, the square piano allowed the new keyboard instrument with struck strings and touch-sensitive dynamics to gain wide acceptance. The action is of the simplest type, but with improved dampers – curiously for its date, there is no device to lift the dampers or vary the tone colour.
Flute, P.J. Bressan, London, c.1710, V&A
The unusual choice of ebony for the body of this flute and its fine silver filigree decoration suggest that it was made for a wealthy amateur rather than a professional musician. The flute was popular among gentlemen amateurs, although wind instruments were generally less favoured than strings or keyboards, perhaps because using the mouth to play was seen as less refined.
