Keyed French flageolet – GODFROY

Flageolets

This keyed French flageolet was made by Frédéric Eléanor GODFROY. He was born in 1805 in Paris and was the eldest son of Clair Godfroy (1774-1841). He was a woodwind instrument maker from 1827 to 1844. The GODFROY family was active in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were initially in La Couture-Boussey and then in Paris. They were renowned makers of flutes, flageolets, and clarinets.

It seems that at some point Frédéric Eléanor set up on his own. For more information on the GODFROY family of instrument makers, there’s a super book ‘Great Flute Makers of France: The Lot and Godfroy Families, 1650-1900’ by Tula GIANNINI.

The instrument is made from grenadilla with three hallmarked silver keys. It features a thumbhole with an ivory insert. This flageolet has been fully restored and is in excellent playing condition. We estimate that it was made around 1830. The lowest note it plays is B-flat at a=440 Hz. 

LIBRARY OVERVIEW

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G-sharp key

Open/closed G-sharp key
The open G-sharp key was promoted by Theobald Boehm. So, G-sharp is fingered like a G on the modern-day flute and G is fingered like the modern-day G-sharp. The open G-sharp key mechanism avoids having an additional second G-sharp tone hole, which is not optimal in acoustical terms.
The closed G-sharp key is the regular mechanism on modern day instruments as well as traditional conical wooden more-keyed flutes. G-sharp is obtained by pressing the G-sharp lever. G is produced by pressing down all four fingers of the left hand.
Theobald Boehm’s open G-sharp was not successful in the end and is no longer used in flute-making, with some exceptions.