The Kirby Collection is a unique and irreplaceable assembly of more than 600 musical instruments, most of which were used in Southern Africa before 1934, many pre-dating urbanization. Evidencing the rich musical heritage of the region, it includes instruments made and played by all indigenous Southern African groups, as well as a smaller collection of instruments from five continents, notably Asia, and some unusual instruments from Western Europe. In addition to the instruments themselves, the collection also features paintings, sculptures and other objects relating to the field of sound.
Length: 3.4 in.; Diameter: 1.1 in.; Made of wood, 'it is an open cone with one face flat, (the "table"), which is at right-angles to the open end, and the opposite face sloping to form an edge with the table. A rectangular hole is made in the table, the width of it tapering, and about .5" wide x 1.3" long. Over this hole would be placed the reed, which is not present. At the open end is a hollow screw [thread], which fits in to the clarinet mouthpiece' (de Lange 1967:114, #451)
Length: 3.4 in.; Diameter: 1.1 in.; Made of wood, 'it is an open cone with one face flat, (the "table"), which is at right-angles to the open end, and the opposite face sloping to form an edge with the table. A rectangular hole is made in the table, the width of it tapering, and about .5" wide x 1.3" long. Over this hole would be placed the reed, which is not present. At the open end is a hollow screw [thread], which fits in to the clarinet mouthpiece' (de Lange 1967:114, #451)
Hornbostel-Sachs number: 314.122-6-8 True board zithers with resonator box (box zither) sounded by plectrum, with keyboard; Creator: possibly Fasolini; Date of creation: Probably late 19th century; The virginal is not in Boalch, the standard book on the instrument. It is a patent counterfeit; this is especially clear from the stringing and action. It has the E - B short octave. B below C lower. Gives a whole octave. Beethoven’s fugue at the end of the last concerto is straight up the short octave. The fabric used on the instrument, as well as the screws and pins, are all modern. Jeremy Montagu thinks that Fasolini, a great faker of the 1890s, made it. This was a time when a great many fakes were produced and sold to many museums and collectors.
