Peter Bressan

Peter Bressan (1663 - 1731) was one of the most important baroque recorder makers. He was born in France and baptized Pierre Jaillard. In 1678 he was apprenticed to a wood turner in Bourg for two years; he then left Bourg, but it is not known where he learnt instrument making, although this was most probably in Paris. His treble recorders are similar to those of his contemporary Jean-Jacques Rippert . He came to England in 1688, and is first mentioned as Brazong or Bresong in English archives in 1691 as one of the 'hautboys' who accompanied William III to Holland. The James Talbot Manuscript (GB-Och Music 1187, c1695; see Baines) shows that he was already a leading London maker of flutes, recorders and oboes.

In the 16th and 17th centuries Bressan's residence had been the town house of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, although by Bressan's day it had been divided up; this explains the use of the red rose of Lancaster in his mark (P I/Bressan/cinquefoil rose). Bressan was a friend of James Paisible, who in 1721 appointed him an executor of his estate in England (the other was Peter La Tour, later Bressan's principal creditor).

Bressan published violin sonatas by Castrucci (1718) and violin or flute sonatas by Barsanti (1724). He subscribed to J.C. Gillier's Receuil d'airs francois (1723) and to J.E. Galliard's Hymn of Adam and Eve (1728). His house contained a room large enough for exhibitions. In 1725 John Byrom, author of the epigram on Handel and Bononcini, bought a flute from Bressan, which cost five guineas. The London newspapers of about 6 May 1731 report his death in Tournai, describing him as 'that celebrated artist in making flutes'. An inventory of his house shows that he made all the contemporary wind instruments, and indicates his interest in the fine arts, itemizing some 76 pictures, prints, portraits and busts.

As to Bressan's instruments, some three flutes and 48 recorders survive. The recorders consist of one 4th flute (B), 20 altos (F), ten voice flutes (D), 11 tenors (C) and six basses (F). Except for the basses most are scaled in total external length in the ratios B: 3/4; F: 1; D: 6/5; and C: 4/3.

(abridged and adapted from Grove's)

Maker	Recorder Model	Recorder Size	Pitch	Material	Pieces	Holes	Fingering	Comments	List Price	Our Price
Takeyama	Bressan	Tenor	440	Curly Maple	Three	Double	English	Used in As New Condition! Excellent tone and projection!	$1550	$1450
Paul Richard	Bressan	Alto	415	European Boxwood	Three	Double	English	New - Lovely Bressan short-foot model with outstanding tone and response!	~~$1850~~	$1650
Tom Prescott	Bressan	Alto	415	European Boxwood	Three	Single/Double	English	Used - Very good condition with light signs of wear!	$2150	$1650
von Huene	Bressan	Voice Flute (tenor in D) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XB3X2l7iXs	415	European Boxwood	Three	Double	English	Used - As New condition!Thumbhole shows no wear! Full, rich tone across the entire range!	~~$2800~~	$2400
Martin Wenner	Bressan	Alto	415	European Boxwood w/Artificial Ivory Mounts	Three	Double	English	New - Professional quality instrument. Marvelous sound! Hand-picked at the Boston Early Music Festival!	$2250	$2450
Joachim Rohmer	Bressan	Tenor	415	European Boxwood	Three	Double	English	Used in Mint condition! Powerful tenor at A415!	~~$2700~~	$2450
David Ohanessian	Bressan	Alto	415/411/392	Stained Maple with imitation ivory rings	Five	Double	English	Used - in excellent condition and plays well at all three pitches. Great value!	NLA	$2500
Tim Cranmore	Bressan	Alto	408	European Boxwood w/Artificial Ivory	Three	Single	Hotteterre	Used Aas New - Exquisite copy of original recorder with double holes and original fingering!	~~$2850~~	$2750
Ralf Ehlert	Bressan	Oblinger/Ose Keller (X) Eloy Cortinez/Bach (X) Alto	415	Lightly Stained Boxwood	Three	Double	English	New - Perfect for Purcell, Handel, Corelli, and Hotteterre! Solid low g and f with no burbles!	~~$2500~~	$2750
von Huene	Bressan	Voice Flute (tenor in D) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XB3X2l7iXs	415	European Boxwood	Three	Double	English	New - Hand-picked at BEMF 2019! Full, rich tone across the entire range!	~~$2800~~	$2800