Description

Romantic flute – DUPRÉ, Joseph

This fantastic Romantic flute was made by the Tournai based, Belgian maker, Pierre Paul Ghislain Joseph DUPRÉ or simply Joseph DUPRÉ (1790-1862). He was a self-taught musical instrument maker and gained initial success making single-piece walking stick or cane flutes. He made traversos, clarinets and bassoons, but also some brasswinds. It seems that he sourced French key-makers for his instruments. He took part in national exhibitions and won prizes and the juries were particularly impressed with the accuracy and clarity of the sound, as well as the elegance with which the instruments were crafted. His range of instruments were also well priced. At the Harleem exhibition in 1825, he presented many instruments including his own Dupré tuba. This instrument was a keyed trumpet made entirely of wood, designed to replace brass trumpets of the same type, at half the price.

It is not clear who took over the business after his death. The literature informs us that “Dupré-Coez” were listed in the same street after 1862. Maybe it was just his wife Charlotte COEZ, born in 1800, who he married in 1842 and lived right up to 1899.

This flute is expertly crafted in grenadilla and has an obvious French flair. The silver rings have beaded decoration. Six finely sculptured keys can be used with the D-foot and eight with the C-foot – in solid silver and hallmarked. We think it was made around 1830

This elegant Romantic flute has a very small oval embouchure, measuring 8.4 x 10.24 mm. Its tuning slide enables the flute to play at a=440 Hz once fully inserted or a=430 Hz if pulled out by 10 mm.

The flute produces a very sweet, fine Romantic-era sound with wonderful intonation.

Fully restored by its previous owner, this highly collectible and rare instrument is also an exceptional player. It comes with its original barrel-shaped wooden “tonneau” case, which even features a working key (!) and while not restored, is fully functional.

Our opinion

Gorgeous, elegant and perfectly built for Romantic music. It’s totally museum-quality for a collector, but still a fantastic instrument for an active player. It has excellent playing qualities.

Want to hear it for yourself? Check out the sound sample below of the flute playing EUGENE WALCKIERS & J.STRAUSS Fantaisie sur une valse de Strauss op.60, 1835.

Walckiers was born in Avesnes, France, just 40 km from Tournai..