Liberty Horn

The Liberty Horn was a musical instrument introduced around the start of the twentieth century. It is difficult to categorise as it combines wind with strings. In appearance it would seem to resemble a cross between a small harp and a saxophone with the bell angled further out than usual (to accomodate the strings stretched across the angle). The player had to blow and pluck at the same time, which could perhaps explain why it did not achieve any lasting popularity with musicians.

At least one recording survives, on the Phoenix label (Phoenix Record Co, London): Phoenix 0151. This is an acoustically recorded 78rpm disc performed by 'A. Silstone' (Liberty Horn solo). One side is 'Farther, farther in the world' (D. Pista), the other is 'One little girl in the world for me' (Laslo). It is of thin shellac with no lead-in or lead-out, and has outer and inner edge ridges. This recording is the same as Columbia (USA) A-0807 'A. Selzer' (horn solo) - both sides the same titles. Recorded November 1909 and March 1910 respectively. [cite web|url=http://settlet.fateback.com/COLA500.htm|title=Columbia Recordings|publisher=Tyrone Settlemier |accessdate=2008-09-14 ]

Other uses of term Liberty Horn

The name Liberty Horn has been applied to cow horn instruments of the American Revolutionary period, in particular to those expressing liberty sentiments in their scrimshaw work. [cite web|url=http://www.bagsandhorns.com/id66.html|title=Revolutionary horn|publisher=History In The Making |accessdate=2008-09-14 ]

It has also been applied (for political reasons) to the French Horn.

References