Some time ago The Double Reed[1] featured an article on the sarrusophone which reminded me of several personal contacts with this unusual instrument. I remembered seeing and hearing a soprano sarrusophone in Chicago prior to 1939 when it was being demonstrated by the Delaware, Ohio bandmaster, Mr. E. J. Fitchhorn. Fitchhorn was known for his earlier invention and patent of the Song Flute, one of the earliest PRE-BO (pre-band and/or orchestra) instruments. At the time I thought he was a little strange, playing a metal oboe-type instrument with a double reed while using what seemed to be saxophone fingerings.
Later, in the early 1950s, I remember judging a contrabass sarrusophone at a regional music contest held in Waco, Texas. This instrument, if my memory serves me correctly, was played with a mouthpiece and a single reed. Approximately at the same time, Mr. Curtis C. Guckert, an area representative for Selmer in Texas exhibited and played his collection of wind instruments at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. This included several different -pitched sarrusophones. Finally, a photograph of Guckert with his collection appears in a book authored by Everett L. Timm[2] which was published in 1964.
In spite of all of the above, several questions still were left unanswered. As a result, I set out to find the answers to at least three of them: (1) Who was Sarrus?, (2) Who was Gautrot?, and (3) How complete is the Jolivet-Richart Sarrusophone Fingering Chart? This report is the answer to the first question. Hopefully, answers to the other questions will be forthcoming.
As it turned out, four research breakthroughs were needed to establish the full identity of M. (Monsieur) Sarrus. The former librarian at the Conservatoire in Paris, Madame Michele Maurin[3] started the entire process. The office of the Mayor[4] of Saint-Affrique (Aveyron), France confirmed the elusive place and date of birth. Générals Delmas[5] and Robert Bassac[6] completed the procedure by extracting valuable information from military documents and records regarding Sarrus.
Pierre-Auguste Sarrus (1813-1876)
My scenario starts with the birth of PierreAuguste Sarrus
at 3:00 p.m. on 14/15 March 1813[7] in the city of Saint-Affrique (Aveyron), France.
Saint-Affrique is located about 335 airmiles (535 km) south of
Paris in the northeast part of the Midi- Pyrénées region
of France. The story ends some 63 years later when the Chief of
Music (rank of Lieutenant) of the 13th Infantry Regiment of the
Line, Chevalier de la Légion
d'honneur (26 December 1864),
dies at No. 80 Boulevard Richard- Lenoir in Paris (XI Arrondissement)
on 3 May 1876 at 9:00 a.m.
The parents of Pierre-August [Philippe and Anne (née Gerbal)] Sarrus were one of several families with this surname living in Saint-Affrique. A possible relative of Pierre-August named Pierre-Frédéric Sarrus (1798-1861) became famous enough as a scholar to have a street (rue) named for him in his native city! Pierre-Auguste's shadowy fame was to be mostly military in nature.
The military career of Sarrus commenced on 8 March 1836 and ended with his retirement on 10 July 1867. The last 23 years and 10 months of his active service was as Chef de Musique with the exception of three months as a soldiermusician (playing clarinet) in 1854-55.
Second Engineering Regiment. Sarrus entered military service as a member of the Second Engineering Regiment at the age of 23 where he became a sapper. After serving more than five years, a transfer/reenlistment was effected.
Second Light Infantry Regiment. Service in the Second Light Infantry Regiment found Sarrus just as a soldier. His musical career was to start with his next affiliation.
74th Infantry Regiment. On 27 November 1843, Sarrus commenced service in the 74th Infantry Regiment as Corporal Chief of Music. During his eleven years tenure in this organization he received two promotions (to Sergeant and then to Sergeant-Major), was married [to Dame Mélanie Bellémére (18 August 1846)], won a Military Medal (1852), was deployed to the Orient (Greece and Turkey) for seven months in 1854 (receiving the Crimean Medal) to end this portion of his military service.
51st Infantry Regiment. The 51st Infantry Regiment was a Gendarmerie de la Garde (Military Police) regiment where Sarrus served only three months before obtaining his final military affiliation. During this short time, he was first classified as a soldier-musician, and was then promoted to musician second class. I assume he was in a band, playing the clarinet (his instrument). I also assume he was "marking time" until the right position - Chief of Music - became available to him.
13th Infantry Regiment. Sarrus was first assigned to the 13th Infantry Regiment as a soldier-musician (2 April 1855). Twenty-four days later, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant-Major (bypassing the ranks of Corporal and Sergeant). After serving for three months and eight days, Sarrus was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Approximately ten and one-half years later (21 February 1866) he was promoted to (First) Lieutenant.
During his tenure with the 13th Regiment, Sarrus was: (honored by Gautrot [who patented an invention (1856) named the sarrusophone honoring Second Lieutenant Chief of Music Pierre-Auguste Sarrus]), (2) deployed to Syria for ten months (1860-61), (3) elected as a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (26 December 1864) (Though not clearly defined, Sarrus was also authorized to accept and display l'Ordre du Médjidié de Turquie 5e Classe (1863), and a medal from her Majesty the Queen of England (Queen Victoria).], and (4) retired from active service effective 10 July 1867.
Upon the death of Pierre-Auguste Sarrus (1876), his widow (then 54 years old) and four children survived. In fact, the noticed of his demise was reported to the proper authorities on the very next day by a 30 year old son, Léon-Auguste Sarrus, Sergeant in the 124th Regiment of the Line. This closes the scenario of the heretofore nearly unknown Sarrus.
ENDNOTES - BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.
Michel Jolivet and Robert Richart. "The Sarrusophone. "
The Double Reed, Vol. 8 No. 2 (Fall 1985), pp. 42-45.
2. Everett L. Timm. The Woodwinds. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc., lst ed. 1964, p. 2. [A 2nd ed. was printed (1971) but not released to the general public.]
3. Michele Maurin. Letters to me dated 6 February 1986, 24 March 1986, and 2 June 1987.
4. Office of the Mayor of Saint-Affrique dated 14 August 1987 including birth document, genealogy, and more.
5. Le Général Delmas, Chef du Service Historique de I'Armée de Terre dated 11 March 1986 addressed to Michele Maurin.
6. Le général Robert Bassac, Chef du Service Historique de l'Armée de Terre dated 23 September 1987 addressed to me which included complete military records on file.
7. Copy of birth document from Saint-Affrique says 15 March 1913 while all military records (including transcript of birth document) show 14 March 1813.