Cervený, Wenzel Franz (Václav Frantisele)

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Červený, Wenzel Franz (Václav Frantisele)

Červený, Wenzel Franz (Václav Frantisele), Bohemian inventor of brass instruments; b. Dubec, Sept. 27, 1819; d. Kôniggràtz, Jan. 19, 1896. He was a good performer on most brass instruments when he was only 12 years old. He learned his trade with Bauer, a musical instrument maker in Prague, and worked at various times in Brünn, Bratislava, Vienna, and Budapest. In 1842 he established his own shop at Koniggratz. He invented the following instruments: Cornon (1844), Contrabass (1845), Phonikon (1848), Baroxiton (1853), Contrafagotto in metal (1856), Althorn obbligato (1859), Turnerhorn, Jagerhorn, army trombones (1867), and Primhorn (1873). After the success of the Primhorn, he created the complete Waldhorn quartet, which he considered his greatest achievement. Then followed the Subcontrabass and the Subcontrafagotto, and finally an entire family of improved cornets (“Kai-serkornette”) and the “Triumph” cornet. His “roller” cylinder- mechanism is an invention of the greatest importance. He also improved the Euphonion, the Russian Signal-horns, the Screw-drum, and the church kettledrum. His instruments took 1st prizes at exhibitions in Europe and America.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire