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Louis Drouet (1792 1873) toured Europe as a virtuoso flautist, and manufactured flutes in London for only four years (1815 1819). Throughout his career he continued to use the 8 key flute, despite the wide variety of modifications and new systems being introduced at the time. Lent by Mrs E. Pearce.
Transverse flute
L Drouet
London
Europe
England
United Kingdom

Instrument Information

Title

Flute, nominal pitch: C

Accession Number

1774

Collection

MIMEd

Date Information

Date Made

1818-1819; 1818 - p|1819

Gallery Information

Gallery

Wolfson Gallery

Case

Woodwind case 1

Maker Information

Maker Name

L Drouet (b.1792, d.1873)

Maker Biography

Louis Drouet (1792-1873) was an international virtuoso, teacher, and flute composer. In 1818 he moved to London and started a flute manufacturing firm. In 1819 the firm failed due to counterfeit sales of similarly branded flutes. He returned abroad following the dissolution of his firm, and wrote various educational pamphlets and books.

Made In

City

London

Country

England

Description

Technical Description

This ivory 8 (silver)-keyed flute is in five sections. It is an elegant instrument with 7 decorated silver ferrules, an ivory cap, metal tuning slide, screw-stopper and cork added beneath the touches to reduce key noise. The keytouches themselves are slim and some overlap, and the finger-holes small. The embouchure-hole is slightly oval. The ivory has a distinctive grain and attractive patina. The overall size is 670mm and the sounding length (embouchure to foot) is 594mm.

Unfortunately, some broken mounts, cracks in the head and tuning slide section and a non-functional screw-stopper, the instrument is unplayable in its present condition.

Technical description: Ivory; 5 sections; silver keys; 7 decorated silver ferrules; ivory cap; screw-stopper; metal tuning-slide; small, slightly oval embouchure-hole; small finger-holes; cork added beneath touches to reduce key noise; elegant instrument with distinctive grain and slim keytouches; G♯ key-hole set on nearside, with shank passing over instrument, C keyshank arched to avoid it; low C and C♯ keys are depressed by shanks passing down instrument raising shanks at right angles; they have overlapping touches.

Keymount type: knob, and saddles.
Keyhead type: saltspoon.

Signature marks: The instrument is stamped “DROUET / LONDON” and (on the silver plate riveted to the tuning slide section) engraved “J Gray” in script.

Performance characteristics: [Original range C⁴ - C⁷]. Very few notes playable in present condition; these are not of reliable pitch.

Repair History: Repadded; C mount, and piece chipped from upper tenon, replaced with lighter ivory.

Provenance

Formerly belonged to Mrs D. McDonald, mother of lender Elspeth Pearce. ; on loan to the Collection.

Classification

Instrument

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

Instrument Family

Wind

Hornbostel Sachs Classification

421.121.12 ; musical instrument