Historical Alto Recorders

Picture

Original

Copy

Comments

Anonymous Italian transitional alto in G, 17th c.

Francesco Li Virghi in both A440 and A466

Photos courtesy of Francesco Li Virghi

Anonymous (French?) Ivory alto made around 1700 and playing around A417. New block by Guido Klemisch. Currently in the private collection of Andreas and Karin von Pavel, Germany. The first picture shows the instrument compared with a von Huene Denner alto.

Photos courtesy of Andreas von Pavel

Ivory alto by JC Denner, Boxwood/ivory alto by Rottenburgh, Voice Flute by Rottenburgh and Ivory alto in g by Oberlender in Musikinstrumentmuseum, Berlin

Photo by Charles Fischer

Bressan alto in boxwood and ivory, Musikinstrumentenmuseum, Berlin

Many makers produce Bressan copies, but not necessarily this specific instrument.

Photo by Charles Fischer

Bressan DMC 0127 - Thumbnails open to large files.

Photos formatted by Charles Fischer from DMC

Bressan DMC 0127 - Middle Instrument

Top: Ralf Ehlert, Bottom: Tim Cranmore

Note: the Ehlert and Cranmore instruments were NOT modeled on the DMC Bressan! Instruments shown for comparative purposes only. Photo by Charles Fischer

Bressan DMC 0127 - Middle Head Joint

Left: Ehlert, Right: Cranmore

Note: the Ehlert and Cranmore instruments were NOT modeled on the DMC Bressan! Instruments shown for comparative purposes only. Photo by Charles Fischer

J. C. Denner (the father) Plumwood Alto in g at A392 = Alto in f at A440

Rob Gilliam Turner

The original plumwood was in the Rosenbaum Collection and Rob Turner thinks it was actually an alto in g at 392. Copy plays well at A440

Anciuti Alto in Ivory. Dated 1740 on head - Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Center joint has eight sides. Photo courtesy of Ralf Ehlert

Anciuti Alto in Boxwood at A422 (as recorded by Haynes) Dated 1729 on head - Dr. Herman Moeck Private Collection

One of only a handful of 18th century alto recorders playing at pitches higher than A415. Haynes cites another Anciuti as being at A440, along with a Rippert and a J.C. Denner, although the Rippert and Denner can also be thought of as possibly being altos in g at A392. This is my own conjecture along with that of Rob Turner, but not that of Bruce Haynes. Photo by Charles Fischer

Anciuti Alto showing detail of labium.

Anciuti Alto showing detail of head and window.

Anciuti Alto showing detail of maker's mark, date, and turning of head joint.

Anciuti Alto showing detail of middle joint.

Anciuti Alto showing detail of maker's mark and turning of foot joint.

Note that the mark "III" is different from the mark "I" found on the head and center joint. Were they switched?

Heitz Altos in Munich

Beautifully preserved tortoise-shell and ivory over boxwood. Photo courtesy of Adrian Brown.

Heitz Alto in Dayton Miller Collection 0720

Tortoise-shell and ivory over boxwood. Photo by Charles Fischer

Johann Schell alto in Basel - Boxwood

Young Y1, Catalog Number 1956/632, boxwood unmounted Photo courtesy of Heinz Ammann

Johann Schell alto in Dayton Miller Collection 0658

Young Y2, Catalog Number 10658, boxwood unmounted Photo by Charles Fischer

Johann Schell alto in Dayton Miller Collection 0658

Schell Lip/Windway. Photo by Charles Fischer

Englebert Terton Alto in Dayton Miller Collection 0871

Photo by Charles Fischer

Bizey - Three Altos
Original in DMC 1055

Left: Adrian Brown, 2001 Center: Original
Right: Philippe Bolton, 1998

Copies and original all at A392. Photo by Charles Fischer

Bizey Alto Heads - Bolton, Original, Brown

Photo by Charles Fischer

Bizey DMC 1055 - Labium

Photo by Charles Fischer

Bruggen Steenbergen alto (drawing by Fred Morgan)

Klemisch Steenbergen alto (1981)

The original instrument is approximately A412 the copy is at A415. Photo by Charles Fischer

Bruggen Steenbergen alto (drawing by Fred Morgan)

Boudreau Steenbergen alto (2001)

The original instrument is approximately A412 the copy is at A415. Photo by Charles Fischer

"The Three Denners"

Top: Ralf Ehlert, 2001
Middle: Stephan Blezinger, 2001, Bottom: Jacqueline Sorrel, 2002

Copies and original all at A415. Photo by Charles Fischer

Denner Alto - Copenhagen (drawing by F. Von Huene)

The original plays at A415

Denner auctioned at Sotheby's in 1995

L. Hotetterre Alto - DMC 0326

This instrument is extremely rare, being the only complete recorder by L. Hotteterre. The other three all have missing or alternate pieces by other makers. Photo by Charles Fischer

L. Hotteterre Alto DMC 0326 - Labium

Photo by Charles Fischer

L. Hotteterre Alto - Italian Private Collection

This instrument is not listed in Young 4900 Wind Instruments and so represents the fourth surviving L. Hotteterre alto. Photo courtesy of Paolo Faeti.

L. Hotteterre Alto - Italian Private Collection

Detail of the head and window. Photo courtesy of Paolo Faeti.

L. Hotteterre Alto - Italian Private Collection

Detail of the windway. Photo courtesy of Paolo Faeti.

L. Hotteterre Alto - Italian Private Collection

Shows makers marks. “Lisseau” made the center joint, possibly to adjust the pitch from the very low original. Photo courtesy of Paolo Faeti.

A. Van Aardenberg Alto in boxwood with ivory mounts - Guido Klemisch Private Collection

Photo by Charles Fischer

Stanesby Jr. Alto (Paris) - Head

Many makers have copied this instrument, including Andreas Glatt, Friedrich von Huene, Philippe Bolton, and Peter van der Poel.

Photo by Charles Fischer

Rottenburgh Alto 2643B - Window

Photo courtesy of Philippe Bolton

Rottenburgh Alto 2643B - End View of Lip

Photo courtesy of Philippe Bolton

Rottenburgh Alto 2643B - Showing Scale of Head and Body

Photo courtesy of Philippe Bolton

Rottenburgh Alto 2643B - Showing Scale of Head, Body, and Foot

Photo courtesy of Philippe Bolton

Rottenburgh Alto 2643B - Foot Joint (Hole 8 Detail)

Photo courtesy of Philippe Bolton