Flute, nominal pitch: C

Scherer

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Instrument

Transverse flute/Flutes/Wind/Musical Instrument ; Transverse flute

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Scherer

Date Made

Circa 1720-1778 (probably the earlier part of this period)

Description

This four section conical bore ivory flute has single silver key, bulbous turned ivory at each socket, an ivory cap with turned rings and depressions at its centre, a small circular embouchure hole. The overall size is 648mm and the sounding length (embouchure to foot) is 588mm. The head, lower body and foot are each stamped “2 / SCHERER” with lion rampant (of Hesse). Two (alignment) dots on the upper body may suggest that other “corps-de-rechange” (upper body sections) may have existed for the instrument originally. As many as six, each a slightly different length, could be made for the same flute. Technical description: Ivory; 4 sections; silver key; bulbous turned ivory at each socket; ivory cap with turned rings and depression at centre; small circular embouchure-hole; sockets and foot end have slightly protruding ring on inner edge of circle, foot socket also has turned rings on this edge. R0: Keymount type: ring; SATB. Keyhead type: flat square, with rivet in centre where keyhead and shank join (although no obvious join between two pieces of metal); large keytouch. Performance characteristics: Range D⁴ - A⁶. Speaks easily throughout range with strong sound and rich tone quality; Young (1986, p.119) comments that Barthold Kuijken considered this flute to be `a magnificent playing instrument'. Usable pitch: A⁴ = c 390 Hz (c 390 Hz). Repair History: Upper tenon of upper body has been broken off and repaired; re-glued in 1985 by Roderick Cameron. Phillip T. Young (1986, pp.122-24) has suggested that the "2" stamped above the maker's name may indicate that Georg Henrich (the number distinguishing his instruments from those of his father when they worked together). This would imply a date in the early 1720s (Johannes Jr. died in 1722 and this four-section instrument is unlikely to have been made before 1720. In the same article, Young quotes Barthold Kuijken who, after examining and playing this particular instrument, suggesting that it was 'possibly the earliest of all Scherer flutes I've seen, and one of the very earliest German-made flutes still extant (together with two Denners).'

Other Information

Specific usage history: Played by Barthold Kuijken 3.10.85; measured by F. von Huene (1978) and R. Cameron (1985).

Notes

E. Smith, January 2007.

Measurements

648.

Provenance

ex- Christopher Newton; apparently found in an organ near Durham, wrapped in a newspaper dated c 1919. ; Bequest of Sir Nicholas Shackleton, 2006.

Collection

MIMEd ; Sir Nicholas Shackleton Collection

Accession Number

5404

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