• Author: Anonymous
• Date: 1790
• Collection: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
• Material: cherry and walnut wood
• Inventory: Inv. Cherubini 1988/47

Despite its misleading name, the marine trumpet is a stringed instrument played with a bow yet its sound surprisingly resembles that of a trumpet, due to the asymmetrical bridge on which the single string is stretched. This string rests on one foot, leaving the other free to vibrate and strike the soundboard when the string is stroked with the bow.

The marine trumpet became part of the Grand Duke’s collection at the end of the 18th century and was played during performances at the Lorraine court until the 1830s. It was a requirement in the score of an opera performed at court, Giovanni Paisiello’s Socrate Immaginario, in which the tenor, duetting with a marine trumpet, sings ‘Questa corda non s’accorda al dio Amor’ (This string does not harmonise with the god Love), playfully alluding to the harsh tone of the instrument.