Hamilton & Monzani

[radcliff]

Hammy just updates his blog with a review of a Monzani!!
Joy!
http://hammy-flutemaker.blogspot.it/201 ... -last.html

[Hup]

There's one for sale at http://irishflutestore.com/ - without the B foot though

[Jon C.]

Always love the look and craftsmanship of these flutes, if they only played like they look...

[Rob Sharer]

They do with a proper headjoint (some Monzanis have itty-bitty embouchure holes).

Now, who do we know who has recreated one of those?





Rob

[Steampacket]

A very fine review from Mr. Hamilton. A lot of interesting information about Monzani flutes that I didn't know. There's a Monzani and Co, London. circa 1820, for sale here:
http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.a ... wood-8-key

[Jon C.]

A very fine review from Mr. Hamilton. A lot of interesting information about Monzani flutes that I didn't know. There's a Monzani and Co, London. circa 1820, for sale here:
http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.a ... wood-8-key

The later ones made by Hill, like this one with a separate foot i think are nicer.

[dunnp]

There's been a boxwood Monzani on the following site for a while now as well:
http://www.music-treasures.com/antflupi.htm

Beautiful to look at.

Anyone ever heard on in action playing tunes?

There was one reported many years ago as a fine player .

I've never seen one in the flesh.

[Jon C.]

There's been a boxwood Monzani on the following site for a while now as well:
http://www.music-treasures.com/antflupi.htm

Beautiful to look at.

Anyone ever heard on in action playing tunes?

There was one reported many years ago as a fine player .

I've never seen one in the flesh.

Pretty early version, probably 430 tuning, but sweet sounding... Better be, at $5k!

[jemtheflute]

Anyone ever heard on in action playing tunes?

As I've written here on C&F before, my first 8-key simple system concert flute was a Monzani. It was quite sweet but, narrow-bored and small-holed as it was, it wasn't by any means ideal for ITM. It did me the (IMO) favour of forcing me to learn to use correct classical fingerings with vented keys for F# and C# etc. because without them the intonation and strength of those notes was very poor.

One (the nearer one with the B foot) of the two ivory flutes depicted on the cover of this (highly recommended) album of music for two flutes played by Stephen Preston & Lisa Besnoziuk is a Hill, late Monzani & Co., looking absolutely typical Monzani. The flutes are those actually used for the later repertory on the album. Get the album (available as MP3 downloads) and judge for yourself!

[Rob Sharer]

Once upon a time I had the chance to play either that exact Monzani or its identical twin. What a posh piece of kit it was, too, like playing a Doric column draped with Lalique trinkets.



Rob

[jemtheflute]

Once upon a time I had the chance to play either that exact Monzani or its identical twin. What a posh piece of kit it was, too, like playing a Doric column draped with Lalique trinkets.
Rob

Choicely put, Rob! Did it sound good? Stephen Preston certainly makes this one sing.

[Rob Sharer]

It was refined and polite, more pretty sounding than brash. The embouchure hole wasn't what I was used to at the time, so I don't think we were best suited for one another.



Rob

[apossibleworld]

I have played one of those ivory flutes before and thought it was fantastic. But then again I am more interested in the sweet classical sound, and I prefer a small embouchure.

Jem, on that recording, do you know which pieces they play the Monzani/Hill on, and what's the other ivory flute? I'm just listening online, no liner notes. What are the earlier flutes?

I have a very nice ebony and ivory Hill (late Monzani) that needs to be restored. Integral foot.

[jemtheflute]

I have the LP at home (nice, large picture!) but am in work just now. From memory the Haydn and everything later are on the ivory flutes pictured, the other being a Drouet IIRA. The baroque style flutes used for the baroque pieces are both modern copies, but I forget details. Later.........

[jemtheflute]

OK, the full gen:
The album was recorded in 1983. The Bach and Handel pieces are played on two copies of a 1735 Rottenburgh, Preston's by Tutz and Beznosiuk's by Winkelman. For the rest of the content the C19th multi-keyed ivory flutes were used. Preston's ivory Hill, late Monzani & Co. has 10 keys and was made in London in 1831/2; Beznosiuk's Drouet has 8 keys and was made c1825.