Flute – RAMPONE & B. CAZZANI & C

Flutes

This exceptional late-Romantic flute was made by the company Rampone & B. Cazzani & C in Milan. On the death of the famous woodwind instrument maker Agostino RAMPONE (1843-1897), his son Egidio (1872-1937) went into partnership with Battista CAZZANI (1846-1920), a watchmaker and brass instrument manufacturer and married Cazzani’s daughter. When Cazzani died in 1920, the company became Ditte riunite A. Rampone e. B. Cazzani e. C. 

This model was inspired by the flutes made by Johann ZIEGLER (1794/5-1858). In fact, it was called the ‘Flauto Sistema Ziegler’. It was one of the leading flute models in orchestras in the late nineteenth century. It has the typical Ziegler flute design. The bottom notes for B, C and C-sharp are obtained using pewter plugged keys. It features a metal-lined head joint with a tuning slide and two separate G-sharp keys.

Furthermore, it has metal inlaid tenons and fingerhole bushings. There are even markings so that the owner can adjust each part of the flute to its correct position. The flute has a C key and trill keys at the side with a spectacular lever to raise three keys all in one go. The pitch is a=438 with the tuning slide fully in. It is possible to lower the pitch down by ten Hertz.

The grenadilla has been varnished to give it a nice final touch. The mechanisms all work fine. The rollers for the C-sharp and C are in perfect order. All in all, this flute has a very professional feel to it. This flute is in very good playing condition. Quite unbelievably, there are no cracks in the head joint. Its leather pads are not original. The keyholes are fitted with brass inlays and we think that it originally had cork pads to give a perfect seal.

The flute plays very nicely with good intonation. The high notes speak extremely easily and it really is a typical orchestral instrument of that time.

This is no ‘ordinary’ Rampone flute, but a very rare and exquisite specimen. It has a beautifully decorated cast crown and end foot ring, not to mention eye-catching shiny, silver-plated fingerhole bushings.  We have only seen one other so far, which used to be in the Gandalf Collection.

LIBRARY OVERVIEW

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E. Rittershausen, Berlin

One of the beautiful stories of mythology tells of the way the first musical instrument was suggested. As the story runs, as Orpheus was walking along the shores of the sea, his foot struck a reed that had been cast up by the waters, and had dried in the sun. The reed gave forth a soft, sweet sound as it was made to vibrate by the stroke of Orpheus’ foot and the result was the lyre or hand-harp of the ancient Egyptians. A similar story, and probably the same one adapted to the wind instruments, is that of Lucretius which says that “the simple flute had its origin from the breathing of western winds over certain reeds,” and thus was suggested the musical pipe, or simple tube, which has developed into one of the most fascinating of instruments.

The most elaborate and beautiful collection of flutes ever displayed in the United States, and probably in the world, was seen by visitors to the German section of the Columbian Exposition. The display was that of E. Rittershausen, of Berlin. It was arranged in a large, square glass case, and consisted of flutes made of various woods, of Ebonite and of sterling silver. The Rittershausen flutes are the standard of the world, and have received the indorsement of the best performers upon this favorite instrument. Until 1832 the flute was not regarded as a perfect instrument. In that year Theobald Boehm, of Munich, brought the instrument to such a degree of perfection as to make it one of the most prominent of orchestral and solo instruments. The Rittershausen flutes are made exactly upon the Boehm system, and with such wondrous skill and delicacy of workmanship as to have long since become the favorite of discriminating flutists. It is, in fact, the instrument universally referred to when the Boehm flute is desired.

Like the illustrious Boehm, Mr. Rittershausen is also a virtuoso as well as a manufacturer, devoting his entire faculties to the production of a perfect flute. By his own practical skill he is enabled to appreciate the many details and requirements in the construction of such an instrument as is demanded by the most fastidious virtuoso. This, it will readily be seen, is an invaluable consideration in the selection of a flute by a skilled performer. And in the rapid progress of musical culture of America, there are many lovers of the beautiful instrument who are its admirers and enthusiastic students at the present time.

Living in the musical city of Berlin, Mr. Rittershausen is thrown in personal contact with the greatest flutists of Europe, thereby receiving many suggestions from them that are of incalculable benefit in the manufacture of his instruments. The Rittershausen factory is located at 107 Bergmann street, Berlin, and its product has been famous from the establishing of the present business in 1870. Each year adds largely to the number of Rittenhausen-Boehm flutes in use in America, and they have received the highest testimonials from the most famous composers and performers in this country as well as those abroad. The American representative of the Rittershausen flutes is Mr. Carl Fischer, No. 6 Fourth Avenue, New York.

Musical Instruments at the World’s Columbian Exposition – Frank D. Abbottt, Charles A. Daniell – 1895 – P. 200