{"id":27363,"date":"2025-04-01T16:26:32","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T14:26:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vichy-encheres.com\/?p=27363"},"modified":"2025-11-25T17:33:26","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T16:33:26","slug":"cecilium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vichy-encheres.com\/en\/2025\/04\/01\/cecilium\/","title":{"rendered":"Le c\u00e9cilium\u00a0: le bel oubli\u00e9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ils sont nombreux les instruments de musique invent\u00e9s au 19e<\/sup> si\u00e8cle. Mais il en est de plus attachants que d\u2019autres : le c\u00e9cilium, instrument \u00e0 vent et \u00e0 anche libre, est de ceux-l\u00e0. Il fait partie des instruments rares, tant par son histoire, son fonctionnement que sa lutherie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Un article de Philippe Kr\u00fcmm<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Catalogue<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Vente du 9 mai 2025<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Vente du 10 mai 2025<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Contact<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Experts<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
English version<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Un accord\u00e9on dans un corps de violoncelle\u2026<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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\"C\u00e9cilium
C\u00e9cilium alto, fabriqu\u00e9 le 4 oct.1862 \u2013 (Hauteur 1m20)\nInstrument mis en vente par Vichy Ench\u00e8res le 10 mai 2025\n\u00a9 C. Darbelet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Br\u00e8ve description<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Le clavier situ\u00e9 sur le manche, est constitu\u00e9 de six \u00e0 sept rang\u00e9es de treize boutons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le clavier, est construit sur le principe des positions de doigts d\u2019un instrument du quatuor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Une poign\u00e9e actionn\u00e9e comme un archet fait fonctionner un double soufflet alimentant les jeux d\u2019anches libres. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le c\u00e9cilium fut fabriqu\u00e9 principalement en trois tailles : soprano, t\u00e9nor et contrebasse. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Arthur Quentin de Gromard (1821-1896)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"M\u00e9thode
M\u00e9thode de m\u00e9lophone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Jacques
Jacques FELIX au m\u00e9lophone
Labadens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"M\u00e9lophone
M\u00e9lophone
Cr\u00e9dit : P. Kr\u00fcmm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Un homme va y croire toute sa vie et y laisser une grande partie de sa fortune : Arthur Quentin de Gromard (1821-1896) : musicien, inventeur et fabricant d\u2019instruments de musique \u00e0 Eu (Seine-Maritime).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On doit notamment \u00e0 Quentin de Gromard un brevet d\u00e9pos\u00e9 le 13 mars 1860, pour l\u2019invention d\u2019une lanterne d\u2019\u00e9clairage et de calorif\u00e8res permettant aux musiciens de lire leurs partitions lors de concerts nocturnes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Le c\u00e9cilium, quant \u00e0 lui, s\u2019inspire du m\u00e9lophone de Pierre Charles Leclerc (Brevet d\u00e9pos\u00e9 en 1837). La forme \u00ab Guitare \u00bb ne satisfaisant pas Quentin de Gromard ce dernier d\u00e9cide de cr\u00e9er un instrument \u00e0 anche libre m\u00e9tallique dans un \u00ab corps \u00bb de violoncelle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Il voulut le nommer : Symphonium, mais ce nom, avait d\u00e9j\u00e0 \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u00e9pos\u00e9 en 1828 par l\u2019anglais Charles Wheatstone[1]<\/sup><\/a>  pour un autre instrument de musique \u00e9galement \u00e0 anche libre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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[1]<\/sup><\/a> Charles Wheatstone est l’inventeur du concertina. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Athur
Athur Quentin de Gromard au centre d’un orchestre de c\u00e9ciliums<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Descendants
Descendants d’Arthur Quentin de Gromard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Brevet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Apr\u00e8s de nombreuses h\u00e9sitations, le nom de C\u00e9cilium sera d\u00e9finitivement adopt\u00e9 pour ce nouvel instrument qui devait r\u00e9volutionner la pratique musicale et l\u2019enseignement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Un premier brevet[1]<\/sup><\/a> pour un c\u00e9cilium, est d\u00e9pos\u00e9 le 9 mars 1861 . Deux autres brevets seront d\u00e9pos\u00e9s : le 8 mars 1862 et le 29 mai 1863.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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[1]<\/sup><\/a> Brevet n\u00b0 48871<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Diffusion et r\u00e9compenses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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L\u2019instrument est toujours con\u00e7u avec les meilleurs bois de lutherie. Il fut principalement vendu \u00e0 Paris par la maison Gavioli & Cie au 3 rue de Citeaux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00c0 l\u2019Exposition Universelle de Paris, le c\u00e9cilium re\u00e7oit la mention honorable en 1867 et une m\u00e9daille de bronze en 1878.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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On estime \u00e0 moins de 500 le nombre de c\u00e9ciliums fabriqu\u00e9s. A ce jour, un peu plus de 300 instruments sont recens\u00e9s dans des mus\u00e9es et diff\u00e9rentes collections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le c\u00e9cilium est entr\u00e9e dans la l\u00e9gende des instruments de musique extraordinaires. L’association L’Espace Musical <\/a>tente aujourd’hui de lui redonner vie et de le faire chanter \u00e0 nouveau.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Ecouter le podcast “Le c\u00e9cilium, un instrument pas classique”<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Extrait
Extrait de la m\u00e9thode de c\u00e9cilium<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Andr\u00e9
Andr\u00e9 Bissonnet
Cr\u00e9dit J. Nicolas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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R\u00e9sultats des ventes des 9 et 10 mai 2025<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Quentin de Gromard, \u00e0 la fin de sa vie, voyant le peu de succ\u00e8s de sa belle invention, \u00e9dita un petit opuscule \u00ab De l\u2019id\u00e9e et de l\u2019invention de r\u00e9aliser d\u2019un nouvel instrument de musique, le c\u00e9cilium \u00bb. On peut y lire en conclusion : \u00ab Le peu de dur\u00e9e de la vie active et ses entraves ne permettent pas toujours \u00e0 l\u2019inventeur de lancer son \u0153uvre \u00e0 son heure et comme il l\u2019a comprise. C\u2019est ainsi qu\u2019en ma situation, je me vois amen\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u00e9guer la mienne \u00e0 ceux qui sont appel\u00e9s \u00e0 continuer \u00e0 le faire appr\u00e9cier, et \u00e0 lui faire porter ses fruits \u00bb.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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THE CECILIUM: THE INSTRUMENT THAT TIME FORGOT<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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There were many musical instruments invented in the 19th century, but some are more endearing than others; the cecilium, a wind instrument with a free reed, is one of those. It is an unusual instrument, from a historical, functional, and manufacturing point of view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Un article de Philippe Kr\u00fcmm<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Catalog – available soon<\/em>…<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Sale on 9 May 2025<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Sale on 10 May 2025<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Contact<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Experts<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Version fran\u00e7aise<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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An accordion in the body of a cello<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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\"C\u00e9cilium
C\u00e9cilium alto, fabriqu\u00e9 le 4 oct.1862 \u2013 (Hauteur 1m20)\nInstrument mis en vente par Vichy Ench\u00e8res le 10 mai 2025\n\u00a9 C. Darbelet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Brief description<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The keyboard, which is located on the neck, consists of six or seven rows of 13 buttons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The design of the keyboard is based on the fingering principles of a string quartet instrument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A handle, which is played like a bow, operates a double bellows that feeds the free reed stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cecilium was produced mainly in three sizes: soprano, tenor and double bass.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Arthur Quentin de Gromard (1821-1896)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"M\u00e9thode
M\u00e9thode de m\u00e9lophone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Jacques
Jacques FELIX au m\u00e9lophone
Labadens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"M\u00e9lophone
M\u00e9lophone
Cr\u00e9dit : P. Kr\u00fcmm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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One man believed in this instrument all his life and invested a large portion of his fortune in it. This man was Arthur Quentin de Gromard (1821-1896), a musician, inventor and musical instrument maker in Eu (in the French Department of Seine-Maritime).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most notably, he is behind the filing of a patent on 13 March 1860 for the invention of a lighting and heating lantern allowing musicians to read their scores during evening concerts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The cecilium was inspired by Pierre Charles Leclerc’s mellophone (whose patent was filed in 1837). Quentin de Gromard was not satisfied with its “guitar” shape, so he decided to create a free metal reed instrument in a cello \u201cbody\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He wanted to name it Symphonium, but this name had already been registered in 1828 by the Englishman Charles Wheatstone[1]<\/sup><\/a>  for another musical instrument, also with a free reed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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[1]<\/sup><\/a> Charles Wheatstone est l’inventeur du concertina. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Athur
Athur Quentin de Gromard au centre d’un orchestre de c\u00e9ciliums<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Descendants
Descendants d’Arthur Quentin de Gromard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Patent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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After much deliberation, the name Cecilium was finally decided upon for this new instrument that would revolutionize musical practice and teaching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A first patent[1]<\/sup><\/a> for a cecilium was filed on 9 March 1861. Two further patents were filed in relation to it, on 8 March 1862 and 29 May 1863.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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[1]<\/sup><\/a> Brevet n\u00b0 48871<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Commercialisation and recognition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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These instruments were always made with the finest woods. They were mainly sold in Paris by Gavioli & Cie at 3 rue de Citeaux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Universal Exhibitions in Paris, the cecilium was awarded an honourable mention in 1867 and a bronze medal in 1878.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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It is estimated that fewer than 500 ceciliums were ever produced. Just over 300 of these are still known to exist today, in museums and various collections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cecilium has entered the pantheon of extraordinary musical instruments. L’Espace Musical <\/a> association is now trying to revive it and make it sing again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Listen the “Le c\u00e9cilium, un instrument pas classique” podcast<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Extrait
Extrait de la m\u00e9thode de c\u00e9cilium<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Andr\u00e9
Andr\u00e9 Bissonnet
Cr\u00e9dit J. Nicolas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Sales results for 9 and 10 May 2025<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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At the end of his life, Quentin de Gromard, upon seeing the lack of success of his beloved invention, published a short booklet entitled “On the idea and invention for creating a new musical instrument, the cecilium.” Its conclusion reads: “The short span of one\u2019s career, and the obstacles along the way, do not always allow the inventor to launch the fruit of his work at the right time and in the way he intended to. This is how, in my case, I find myself passing on my invention to those who will carry on developing appreciation for it, and will help realise its full potential.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\ude80 Suivez-nous !<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n