Alfred Kurt BERNDT, a master flutemaker based in Berlin, remains a relatively obscure figure in the world of woodwind instrument making, yet his contributions deserve greater recognition. His legacy was brought to light through an article penned by his son, the late Klaus BERNDT, 16.09.1936 – 03.07.2025. In 2018, Klaus...
This Boehm & Mendler flute is simply spectacular – in amazing condition. It was made by the legendary Boehm & Mendler workshop in Munich, Germany. Formed by Theobald BOEHM (1794-1881) and Carl MENDLER (1833-1914), the company was active from 1862 to 1888. Surprisingly, most of the flutes made were exported,...
This E-flat ring-key piccolo comes from Munich, Germany. It is made of grenadilla wood and has rings and keywork crafted from nickel silver. Its maker was Johann Martin Benedikt LEHNER (1853-1915), who preferred simply Martin Lehner. The instrument is stamped with M. LEHNER / MÜNCHEN. The maker’s stamp also features a...
This exquisite, solid silver alto flute is a beauty to behold and was made by England’s finest flute-makers of the mid-twentieth century. The company was established in 1872 as successors to Rudall Rose, Carte & Co and was bought in 1943-1944 by Boosey & Hawkes. The history of this great...
This conical ring-key flute by Charles Boromée MAHILLON (1813-1887) was totally restored and now sounds fantastic. You can hear it for yourself playing Jean REMUSAT (1815–1880) Le flûtiste romancier, Introduction from around 1859. The flute is made of finely selected cocuswood with nickel silver keywork, rings and crown tip. All parts...
This System Schwedler-Kruspe flute featured in the MEINEL & HEROLD product catalogues. Meinel & Herold, established in 1893 in Klingenthal, Germany, started as an accordion factory, but over time, it evolved into one of the key trading companies in the area. The company was extremely successful, focussing solely on mail...
We love walking stick instruments. This genuine walking stick or cane flute is a rare find indeed. The HÉROUARD family of woodwind instrument makers were established in La Couture from around 1760 and related by marriage to the HOTTETERRES. The Hérouard Frères company was active from 1835 to 1878....
Walking stick flute – DECKER, Joseph This is a fascinating and extremely rare walking stick instrument. This three-part marvel was made by the Bavarian master turner and instrument workshop of Joseph DECKER. It’s maybe from the mid-1800s. Very little is known about Joseph Decker and few of his instruments are...
Everyone is familiar with the flutemakers FREYER! This Johann Gottlieb FREYER (ca.1764-1808) flute is crafted in boxwood and has three silver keys. The ferrules are turned from ivory just like its beautiful cap. All parts of this flute are stamped with the maker’s Prussian eagle and I.G. FREYER stamp. But that’s...
This C clarinet was made by the Bavarian and Munich-based master instrument maker, Benedict PENTENRIEDER (1809-1849). Pentenrieder’s life story and that of his immediate family are quite sad ones. He lived a very short life… dying at the age of just 40. He worked at the same time and location...
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.
Münchner Kindl – ‘Munich child’
This emblem has represented Munich’s coat of arms since the 13th century. Initially, the depicted figure was a monk or friar with a Bible, but by the 16th century, it transformed into various representations, including that of a small child in a pointed hood, frequently seen holding a beer mug and a radish. It is believed that the name ‘Munich’ (München in German) is derived from the phrase Kloster von Mönchen, meaning ‘Cloister for Monks’, which relates to the nearby Imperial Abbey of Tegernsee, a Benedictine Monastery that was established close to the original settlement of Munich.
This image, in its numerous variations, has been displayed on countless items, including the city hall in Munich, manhole covers, and beer steins. The gender of the figure has also transformed over time, shifting from a clearly male representation to a gender-neutral child, and then to a small girl. Today, when the kindl is depicted by a person, such as during Oktoberfest, it is most often portrayed by a young woman.
