Description

Third flute – MÜLLER

Okay… so yes… this charming boxwood flute is a bit warped – the classic banana effect. Still, it’s a fascinating instrument. It is a four-part flute with a single brass key and horn rings.

It is a third flute. So, it is a third higher in pitch than a regular flute. Third flutes were used for wind music and were easily combined with brass instruments that are typically pitched in B-flat.

If we look closely, we can see that someone tried to give it the kiss of life with some restoration work on the cracks on the right-hand joint. Having survived several wars, it has quite a range of scars.

So, who made it? Since Müller is the most common surname in German-speaking countries, it is difficult to be exact. Saaz or Žatec, which was Bohemia, and now the Czech Republic is a place famous for its Saaz Hops for making great beer. But there were some instrument makers with the surname Müller who worked in the town. A certain Anton and another Gottlieb. There are also two clarinets with the same maker’s stamp known to exist, together with a flute sold at auction.

Whoever buys this third flute will certainly be interested in finding out exactly who made it… a real whodunit!