Beschreibung:

Worcester Local Militia: a pair of late Georgian or Regency kettle drums (timpani), painted copper bowls each emblazoned with two wreathed badges comprising the royal cypher within a garter surmounted by a crown, garter with the legend 'WORCESTER LOCAL MILITIA', all against a pale green ground; screw tensioners acting on the skins via red and white painted iron flesh hoops; with later fabric covers and boxes, and a selection of drumsticks; diameters: 57 and 47 cm. [2] Provenance: The collection of Edward Croft Murray CBE (1907-1980). Edward Croft Murray, former keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum, was an antiquarian, and an internationally acknowledged expert on early European Art and Music. From the late 1930s he began to assemble an exceptionally fine collection of early musical instruments. He played these kettle drums in private concerts and at various public functions: before Royal guests, on television (BBC2) and at the start of departmental exhibitions at the British Museum usually as part of the 'Guild of Gentlemen Trumpeters' which normally consisted of three natural trumpets and this pair of kettle drums . Literature: Illustrated in 'New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians' published by Macmillan in 1980 along with one pair of contemporary drum sticks figure 13 on page 834. Illustrated in the Galpin Society newsletter 5 February 2003 on the front cover and on page 4 with Edward Croft - Murray playing. Exhibited: At Sotheby's, London 11th to 22nd August 1986 no 169 as part of exhibition 'Made for Music' to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Galpin Society and illustrated in the catalogue. Read more »