Our reproduction is based on an original flute by Johann Joachim Quantz (1697–1773), preserved in the Dayton C. Miller Collection at the Library of Congress. This instrument is associated with Frederick II of Prussia, for whom Quantz served as court flutist, teacher, and instrument maker. It is generally dated to around 1740 and represents a distinguished example of Berlin flute making at the height of the late Baroque period.
Instruments of this type were central to the musical life of Frederick’s court and to the refined performance practice described in Quantz’s treatise.
With its A = 415 Hz corps de rechange, reflecting the modern standard for Baroque performance practice, the instrument offers expressive flexibility characteristic of the mid-18th-century German and Italian traditions, and in particular the Berlin School. It is particularly suited to late Baroque and Rococo repertoire, including works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Philipp Telemann, Georg Friedrich Händel, Johann Joachim Quantz, and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.
With its A = 392 Hz corps de rechange, reflecting the lower French pitch (ton de chambre) of the early 18th century, offers a deeper, more mellow sonority, particularly suited to French and early Baroque repertoire, including works by Jean-Philippe Rameau, François Couperin, and their contemporaries.
- Pitch 415
- Corps de rechange 392
- Head joint with tuning slide.
- Crafted from Olive wood.
- Wood-ends are protected by Cocobolo wood rings.
- The keys are casted from brass and features steel springs with leather pad.
- Comes with care instructions, and a fingering chart.
- Additionally, accessories such as a velvet-lined protective case, cleaning cloth, and extra key pads are provided.
The Legacy of Johann Joachim Quantz:
- Quantz was one of the most important flute virtuosos and theorists of the 18th century. A central figure in European musical life, he is renowned not only for his compositions but also for his influential treatise “On Playing the Flute” (1752), one of the most important sources on 18th-century performance practice and flute technique. The treatise remains an essential reference for historically informed performance, offering detailed insight into Baroque and early Classical flute technique, articulation, and musical expression..
- Quantz served as flute teacher, composer, and court musician to Frederick II of Prussia, with their close musical association beginning in the 1720s and continuing throughout Frederick’s reign. His pedagogical and musical influence shaped the Berlin flute tradition and court style of performance.
- Several original flutes associated with Quantz’s circle survive today, many preserved in the collection of Frederick the Great, reflecting the high level of craftsmanship and refinement of the Berlin school.
Quantz’s Innovations in Flute Design:
- During the 1730s and 1740s, Quantz was closely involved in the refinement of flute construction, contributing significantly to the evolution of the instrument’s design and performance capabilities. Quantz’s legacy includes the development of the adjustable headjoint, often referred to as the “slide head." This innovation allowed flutists to make fine pitch adjustments, improving intonation across different tonalities. This principle remains fundamental to modern flute design.
- Quantz also added an E-flat key on the foot joint in some instruments of the Berlin tradition. This innovation enhanced technical ease and expanded expressive possibilities, and represents an important step in the gradual development of the keyed flute.
Baroque Flute - Transverse flute - Traverso flute - Blockflöte - Traversflöte - Flauta barroca - Flauto traverso - Flute Traversière - Flauta barroca
JJ Quantz A=415 - 392 hz Olive Wood
- Product Code: JJ415-O
- Availability: In Stock
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$1,000.00