Bronze carnyx
Since June 2025, “Carnyx of Tintignac” has been a registered trademark of the city of Naves.
In 2004, in Tintignac, Corrèze, France, Christophe Maniquet and his team discovered 7 carnyces in pieces (7 heads and many fragments of tubes, crests, ears, mouthpieces…), among 500 other fragments of bronze objects. I chose to reproduce several elements from this deposit in order to recreate a carnyx, while meticulously following the information found in archaeological publications, with the aim of obtaining an authentic instrument and sound.
These instruments come from a culture that has now disappeared, and the subtlety of their relationship to music and sound is unknown to us. They are not really meant to play melodies, they are beasts that produce a huge and powerful spectrum of tones, with a considerable dynamic range and a great variety of textures for those who know how to master them. It is this multicolored voice that is the vital characteristic of the carnyx family.
My first concern was to adapt this instrument to the musical world of the 21st century. That is why I offer three different tunings and a screw system allowing the mouthpieces to be changed and the instrument to be disassembled for transport. However, it is also possible to have just a single straight mouthpiece, like the archaeological carnyx.
Starting Price: €2,800.
Waiting Time: between 6 months and 1 year.
Contact me to find out the detailed prices and current waiting times.
What does it sound like?
FAQ
Is it difficult to play the carnyx?
It depends on your experience with music and musical instruments.
If you have never played music or an instrument, yes, it will be difficult to play. If you have played a non-wind instrument, it will be a little less difficult. If you have played a wind instrument but not a brass instrument, it won’t be too difficult. If you have experience with a brass instrument, playing the carnyx will be very easy.
Can you change the carnyx head?
No, I cannot. To make the head, I first have to create a sculpture, which is then molded in aluminum to produce four molds. This process is very expensive and time-consuming.
Can you make the Deskford carnyx?
Unfortunately, I am not currently working on recreating the Deskford carnyx.
Does using different metals change the sound?
No, all metals are very similar in terms of porosity, so making the same instrument with different metals will not perceptibly change the sound to the human ear.