The Tiles' Trading Tune
The sound of 18th-century instruments, inspired by the Ateneu de Mao's trade tiles
General view of the tile display case (21st century)Ateneu de Maó
The tiles have this name because they represent different trades, although there are also musicians, soldiers and fabulous animals from bestiaries. In the Ateneu de Maó we ask ourselves: What would we hear if the instruments were real? Let's find out!
Man playing the bagpipe
The bagpipe is a wind instrument believed to have been used in ancient times by the Babylonians, Hebrews, Romans and Celts in all areas of society: civil (festivals and celebrations), religious (masses and funerals) and military (parades).
Tile with Bagpipe player (18th century) by UnknownAteneu de Maó
Listen closely!
To produce the sound, air is stored in a wineskin or sack by blowing through a tube or by manipulating bellows with an arm. The wineskin is then squeezed, allowing the air to escape through another tube with holes, and the melody is played by covering and uncovering the holes.
Man playing the charamina
The charamina or dulzaina is a woodwind instrument with a double reed and a conical tube. It is an ancient instrument whose predecessors can be found in Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome.
Tile with Chirimia player (18th century) by UnknownAteneu de Maó
Listen closely!
The sound is produced by blowing through a conical metal tube (the leadpipe) to which two symmetrical reeds are attached. There are seven holes at the front of the body and one at the back; the melody is played by covering and uncovering them. The last bell amplifies the sound.
Man playing the traverso
The traverso flute, or transverse flute, is a woodwind instrument created by modifying the recorder, one of the oldest instruments. The traverso flute originated in Europe, particularly in Germany, in the 11th century, having travelled from Asia via the Byzantine Empire.
Tile with Flute player in blue trousers (18th century) by UnknownAteneu de Maó
Listen closely!
To produce the sound, the musician blows through the mouthpiece and opens and closes the six holes along the tube with his fingers to create the melody. Originally made in one piece, during the Baroque period the body was made in three parts: head, body and foot.
Man playing the bassoon
The bassoon is a double-reed woodwind instrument that was invented in the 16th century. It was very important during the Renaissance, when it was indispensable for church music. It survived until the early 20th century, even coexisting with its successor: the bassoon.
Tile with Dulcian player (18th century) by UnknownAteneu de Maó
Listen closely!
To produce the sound, the musician blows through a curved copper tube into which a double reed is inserted. The body of the instrument contains holes and a pair of keys that are covered and uncovered to create the melodies.
Man playing the post bugle
The post bugle is a brass instrument originally used to announce the arrival and departure of mail. Today it is used as a symbol of post offices in various countries.
Tile with Post horn or hunting horn player (18th century) by UnknownAteneu de Maó
Listen closely!
The sound of the instrument is produced by the vibration of the lips on the mouthpiece, which is generated by the air column. As it has no valves or holes, it has a very limited range.
Man playing the harp
The harp is a plucked stringed instrument consisting of a resonating bow and a series of strings stretched across the top and bottom. The harp has been known since ancient times in Asia, Africa and Europe.
Tile with Harp player (18th century) by UnknownAteneu de Maó
Listen closely!
To produce its sound, the harpist vibrates the strings with his fingers, which have different dimensions and produce different notes.
Man playing the viola
It is a bowed stringed instrument similar to the violin but larger. It was the first term used to define bowed stringed instruments, both arm-positioned (viola da braccio, used in taverns) and knee-positioned (viola da gamba, for the court).
Tile with Viola player (18th century) by UnknownAteneu de Maó
Listen closely!
To produce its sound, the violist presses the strings against the fret with his left hand, while with his right hand he rubs the strings with a bow to create the vibration that produces the sound.
Man playing the violin
It is the smallest and highest pitched instrument in the bowed string family. It has a figure-8 soundboard, a fretless neck and four strings. Until the 17th century it was a less prestigious instrument than the viola da gamba.
Tile with Violin player (18th century) by UnknownAteneu de Maó
Listen closely!
To produce its sound, the violinist presses the strings against the frets with his left hand, while with his right hand he rubs them with a bow to create the vibrations that produce the different notes.
Woman playing the tambourine
The tambourine is an ancient instrument used in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Middle East, India, Greece and Rome, particularly in religious contexts. It belongs to the family of hand percussion instruments.
Woman playing the castanets
It is a percussion instrument made of two elongated, straight or curved pieces of wood or ivory joined by a string. The pitches of the pairs are different; the lowest is called male, for the left hand, and the highest is called female, for the right hand.
Photomontage of the AC-22 and AC-40 polychrome tiles (21st century) by UnknownAteneu de Maó
Listen closely!
The tambourine is played by striking it with the fingers or hand. Occasionally it is struck with other parts of the body while dancing. The castanets are played by striking the two halves together with the fingers and a flick of the wrist.
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