P. Bressan Alto, F
European boxwood
Grenadilla
European boxwood, a=392 Hz
Pierre Jaillard Bressan (1663 –1731) moved from France to England in 1688 and established himself in London, where he mainly made recorders. His instruments tended to have thick ivory mounts which he added on to his recorders after applying the “golden ratio” to cut them. Preserved original Bressan recorders can be found in many English museums, but also among the collection of Frans Bruggen, Amsterdam, on which our copy is modelled. Bruggen used the original on numerous recordings which are still enjoyed today.
We contruct this alto recorder at a pitch of a=415 Hz or a=392 Hz. The orginal instrument’s pitch lies between these two. We recommend European boxwood as well as grenadilla or ebony for this instrument. Our version has an earthy and strong sound, making this flute outstandingly suited for French Baroque music.
