Here is a three-part flute made by the Bavarian maker Georg HEIDEGGER (1815-1859). Georg Heidegger was the first of a family of instrument makers. The family was active in Passau, Bavaria, Germany and Linz, Austria from the nineteenth right up to the twentieth century.

The flute is crafted in grenadilla and features six nickel silver keys and nickel silver rings. The keys are mounted on metal posts.  It is a typical example of a ‘Munich style’ flute of the mid-nineteenth century, with its three parts. The foot joint is special as rather than a normal C, it only goes down to play C-sharp. We haven’t come across many flutes with just a C-sharp foot joint – so quite rare indeed! It is a very professionally made instrument with a wonderful, small, carved, oval embouchure and a nicely made screw cork and cap.

In terms of pitch, this flute plays at a=448 Hz. This high pitch was normal for Bavaria, especially for in and around Munich at that time. We can estimate it was made around 1850.

The flute is playable with very good intonation and speaks high notes easily. The sound is bright and colourful.