What is a Buccin?

[Mark Preece]

I have the world premiere recording of the Berlioz Messe Solonnelle, with John Eliot Gardiner conducting the ORR and the Monteverdi Choir. In the orchestra members list, it is noted of having an Ophicleide, Serpent, and also a Buccin included between these two instruments. What is a Buccin?

I remember a few years ago in university, I asked my music history prof about this, and she had no idea! I thought it was strange. Anyhoo...

If anyone could educate us about this instrument, that would be super!

Thanks,

[Alex C]

A buccin is either a snail or a bass wind instrument. I don't suppose it is beyond the realm of possibility that Berlioz included a part for a bass snail in his orchestrations.

History records that Berlioz re-orchestrated his music for cities outside of Paris which invited musicians from cities nearby so that the Berlioz concert would be as bombastic as possible. I personally believe that Berlioz was just a friendly guy and not especially bombastic.

You can find scant information about the Buccin, but try here http://www.berliozhistoricalbrass.org/buccin.htm for a start.

[Mark Preece]

Very interesting! Thank you for the information. I just have one more question... How is the Buccin pronounced? I am thinking that the obvious phonetic pronunciations may not apply ("buck-in" "Boo-kin" Boo chin" "Beu-chin"....) amazingly I can't figure this one out! Every one seems so odd!

[Allen]

I tried playing the very same bucin that Douglas Yeo is pictured playing. I was struck by how out-of-tune the partial series was, and the raucous and inconsistent sound it made.

It would have taken a huge amount of work to learn to play that thing in tune. As far as the sound quality goes, I suppose it matches the design of the "bell." I wonder if one could duplicate the effect with a modern trombone, perhaps with the use of a special mute.

Berlioz was very particular about what sounds he wanted for different musical passages, as anyone who has read his treatise "Orchestration" can tell.

The (unfortunately small) trend to explore different sound textures -- some revived from the past -- can reveal exciting musical ideas.

Allen Walker

[Chuck(G)]

I suspect the word is merely the French rendering of Italian Buccina, generally taken to be a bright brass instrument, after the ancient Roman war trumpet of the same name.

Perhaps Berlioz just meant a loud brass instrument, not necessarily the trombone with a dragon's head.

See, for instance, Resphighi's use of the term in 'Pines of Rome".

Whatcha think?

[Alex C]

To pronounce this correctly, don't you have to drop the last letter? Better yet, to pronounce it correctly drop the last letter, then say it through your nose wiz an attitude because "zese Americans can nevier learn to spec ze French languageee correctly."

BOO-shai(n) - kind of. It may sound more correct if you snarl a bit while saying it. Also, act like you know it's right, unless you are in Montreal. You'd get in real trouble in Montreal, don't even try it.

Sorry... I got carried away.

[Tom Holtz]

That is freakin' cool. Don't see those on eBay. I need a repair tech who can put a dragon head on my Eb Buescher helicon.

[SplatterTone]

"zese Americans can nevier learn to spec ze French languageee correctly."

Keep talking this way and you're gonna get a bunch of FREEDOM fries stuffed into your FREEDOM horn.