Research projects

The four project have been implemented at the Berne University of the Arts.

AGILITÉ, HOMOGÉNÉITÉ ET BEAUTÉ

(Agility, homogeneity and beauty)

This research project looks into the building, the typology and the playing techniques of the family of the saxhorns that were developed by Adolphe Sax (1814-1894) in the mid-19th century. It studied both, the repertoire as well as the line-up of the Sax-Banda common in the Parisian Opera and within contemporary French military music. The bases for the project were the 19 saxhorns owned by the Burri collection in Bern. As part of the project we transcribed original compositions for saxhorns that subsequently were used for two concerts, one in Bern and one in Brussels. Martin Mürner's part in the project was to restore the instruments and make them playable.  

Historically Accurate Brass Instrument Manufacturing

This project deepens the understanding in materials and manufacturing technologies of original brass instruments. It examines the correlation of material, the thickness and strength of the horn’s wall and the quality of the sound and differences in playing the instrument. Whilst analysing the different materials used in the 19th century the goal was to recreate a new type of brass sheet that would come as close as possible to the original composition. Within the team Martin Mürner researched the layouts of historical workshops partly through failure reports of Parisian instrument makers. 

LE COR CHAUSSIER

The "Cor Chaussier" is an onitonic brass instrument with vents. It was developed by Henri Chaussier working for the Millereau firm in the 1880's and was designed to be a modern vessel taking the rich sounding natural horn into the 20th century. This research project puts a spotlight on the Chaussier horn and its positioning within the musical practice and education in 19th century France. The instrument allowed the musician to change key using a piston without interrupting the playing. In this way one could play in all keys applying the same techniques as playing a natural horn. Martin Mürner supervised the built of a replica based on the only surviving "Cor Chaussier" kept at the MIM in Brussels. 

Corrosion

To preserve a historical instrument as well as possible creates a dilemma. Either you play it and it suffers through wear and tear and corrosion, or it is placed in a museum where it looses its voice and is reduced to being a statue. This predicament was the basis of a research project entitled "Korrosion". For the first time a team of specialists measured and researched phenomena of corrosion inside brass instruments. Furthermore the team started a series of long term experiments to find ways of usage that enhance conservation as well as methods of preventative conservation.