An elegant example of 19th-century musical education , this handwritten notebook with its embossed red cover and gilt title, "Institution de Toulenne," contains a complete course in music and solfège written by hand by Maurice Laborde during the 1863-1864 academic year. It is most likely a teacher's notebook, intended to structure instruction or impart theoretical foundations to students. The remarkably calligraphed text follows a clear progression: definitions, questions and answers, notions of notes, intervals, staff, measures, and rhythms. The final chapter presents the handwritten lyrics of several popular and patriotic songs—including La Marseillaise —demonstrating a musical education imbued with civic values. This rare document illustrates both the rigor of musical training and the importance of school singing in the republican education of the time.
Technical specifications ✦ Origin: Toulenne Institution (France, Gironde) ✦ Estimated period: 1863-1864 ✦ Dimensions: Approximately 19.5 x 15.5 cm ✦ Material: Paper, brown ink, embossed red cardboard cover, gold printing ✦ Contents: 117 handwritten pages ✦ Condition: Very good condition; solid binding, cover slightly rubbed, pages intact and legible
An iconic object of musical and civic education in the 19th century – ideal for collectors of educational manuscripts, musicologists or lovers of antique calligraphy.
