Dream flutes....and flutes of our dreams

Irish Flute
1

Yesterday I spent the most incredible day with a collection of flutes that would rival any museum in the world.

A private party (sorry, but anonymous he shall remain) invited me by to have a look at some of his flutes, primarily a Rudall & Rose (actually 3 of them) for my catalogue research. (and if you know the individual, kindly don’t name him…that would be bad)

But the other flutes were much more interesting, every single one of them in museum-quality condition, and every single one a wonderful player of the highest quality. Most of the restorating work was his own, a man of exceptional talent and skill…and love for the flutes.

It was a dream. I had my digital recorder going the entire visit (about 5 hours) to get down all the discourse and music.

Among the flutes:

4 crystal flutes by Claude Laurent (including the flute that had been made for Napoleon…incredible).

3 boxwood flutes by Kirst

2 Genser (spelling? maybe Grenser?)

A solid ivory flute by Drouet
A solid ivory flute by Richard Potter (this man has about a dozen flutes of Richard Potter, when they were first with the “Potter” name, then with “Potter Senior” as the sons moved in)
A solid ivory flute by Monzani

Two original boxwood flutes by Th. Boehm (one a 6 key, the other a 7 key…the missing key on the first was the low C…it went only to C#!)
These were the flutes of Boehm before he ran into Nicholson and changed it all around.

The first Boehm flute made by Louis Lot (for the World exposition of 1855) of his own manufacture, rather than when he was with his in-law Godfrey

A Bisey made of lignum vitae, an immense-sounding baroque flute

A Siccama of pristine, unplayed condition

and on, and on, and on…

in all, about 200 flutes, of which i played about 25 (that’s all there was time for!)

Truly astounding. A once-in-a-lifetime experience that I hope I might get to do again. A wonderful man with wonderful priceless tastes and a collection over which to drool. But his only fee: play the flutes. He loves to hear them played, himself an amateur of self-admitted middle-quality. Fun to watch him, but he took such joy in hearing the tunes.

Me? I was loving every second of it.
I kept reaching for this one Rudall he had, of exceptional tone and power. He left it on the table for me to play as he retrieved more flutes. Each time he packed a couple up in their cases and off to get more, I played the Rudall – my own Boxwood Rudall sitting on the table just laying there! Oh the irony!

I was shaking as I left. I couldn’t believe the experience.

Every flute hand-rubbed, polished, restored (when needed with original parts and woods/ivories etc)…he even had a busted up Laurent just for parts!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am humbled.

I hope everyone gets to experience such a thing some day, too!

2

Wow! Sounds like a little slice of heaven. I hope I run into this guy someday!

3

Oh my! Whatever can be said for and against replicas, there is something about originals that moves the soul. Those guys didn’t have power lathes and electronic tuners, just their hands, heart and ears.

4

I can’t imagine ever feeling confident enough to play anything in such a collection. But I get chills just imagining sitting in a corner while you were playing them.

Thank you for the description! It will set a lot of us to dreaming.

Jennie

5

How were the Laurent? I am really fascinated by them… Are they any good? I read in several places that crystal was actually not a very good material for making flutes, is that true?

And in general, what would be your dream flute?

6

I hope that you succeed in getting a second " once in a lifetime " experience, David.

7

…but if that happened, then it wouldn’t be a “once in a lifetime” would it. So it would be best for David, if it never happened again. Otherwise it merely cheapens the experience. :party:

8

David,

That’s great but where are the pictures?
Where are the sound clips?

Come on throw some meat on the bones…

Sven

9

David I wish you well, however I also wish that the fleas from a thousand camels descend upon your nether regions. Talk about a once in a lifetime experience- I am sooooo envious!

10

Did the mystery collector have a Bb Richard Potter in his collection ? I need measurements of the bottom joints of one.
Was his ivory Monzani the normal 8 key one ?
Had his ivory Potter been repaired ?

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andrew:
his potter ivory was keyless, no mounts, and no cracks (repaired or otherwise). Marvelous. Fortunate man.
I didn’t ask (and he didnt’ mention) of a Bb Potter. I can ask. Do you mean a short fife-like Bb or the long, deep one?
I’m trying to remember the ivory Monzani, but don’t recall if it was 8 key. There were so many flutes. The ivory Drouet was an 8key.
He has Monzani #32, one of, if not the earliest, of its kind…with no crowns stamped to the keys. Interesting flute that played quite nicely.
The corps de rechange on the Grinser was amazing. What a flute. And I’m not even a baroque player.

Sven:
I’ve got sound clips, yes, from my digital. Transferred them today, so by the weekend (I hope) I will post sound samples of as many as I had.
Photos when they’re developed, too!

Matt Paris:
The Laurent flutes were amazing tone and quality of sound. The F# was amazingly flat, but using the short-F key to vent, it was acceptable. The fork fingerings were a chore, but once settled in, I sort of got it. They are 4-key flutes (Bb, G#, F, Eb)
Cut crystal (they are quite heavy) apparently needs to be polished a lot to get it clear (as the Napoleon flute was…every single facet), so apparently they had to factor in the polishing when measuring and cutting the original bore. Then polish to the proper size. Unreal workmanship.

Once-in-a-lifetime experience? yes, but why not try to do it again and again? :slight_smile:
And to boot, he’s one of the nicest, down-to-earth guys you’ll ever meet. Wonderful man.

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Low Bb, David.
We have the top half of a Richard Potter Low flute. He isn’t known as a low flute maker.The measurements would of course be useful for the reconstruction.
Did the Laurent flutes have the blue end which the £3500 flute sold recently had ?
I find people always pronounce Drouet as if it were a French name !
I reckon it should have the T pronounced like in Moet of Moet & Chandon, as they were both Dutch, I believe.

13

i recall once visiting someone who had showed me a crystal flute made for napoleon, among others. i walked away from the visit with r&r 4999 in my hand, the other hand tucked into my chestflap. one visit, that’s all yer getting, napoleon said so.

14

rama
may be the man…but Napoleon had 3 flutes. Two he gave away and this one that I played was lifted from one of the 14 carriages he had waiting at Waterloo. He did not mention 4999 as one that he had sold, but then again, your man may have been in the UK, no?

Andrew:
No, the Napoleon Laurent did not have the blue crystal crown, it was faceted as a diamond. One of the other Laurent flutes did indeed have the blued crystal crown. Very rich color indeed.
I love the “bayonett” clips for the joints and how they fit onto the flute. Amazing workmanship. And curved key cups!

I asked him about the Bb Potter and he said had none, although he does have an Alto Monzani (I think he said monzani…could be someone else he said, i can’t recall). He said he’s not heard of a low Bb potter, so yours may be one of the few extant. He will keep an eye for one.

He does have a second ivory Richard Potter, although I apparently did not see that one, so he says. Next visit!

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I have worried that the R.Potter big flute could be a fake, as he is not recorded as a Bb maker.
Alto Monzanis do not seem rare. Remember the nice one sold at Coresham ? Was that Monzani or Cahusac ? Bingham bought it.
Your man’s experience of cosmetic ivory work could be interesting. I tried to involve my dentist, but it seemed beyond him.
I could be quite happy with a one key boxwood R. Potter.
( I hope to be reasonably happy without as well, if I can get some bones back !)

16

david,
my man was (or is) in america, i think you probably know’em. he had some nice antique flutes.

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rama, if it is the same man, then thanks for respecting his privacy.
he loves having the flutes played, but no need to have him bombarded.

i’d like chris norman to visit with him, a visit i’m trying to arrange. now, wouldn’t THAT be fun to sit and watch/listen?
:slight_smile:

18

yes sir, now that’s sweet!

look foward to hearing some clips from your recent visit.