Being the proud new owner of a Schwedler/Mönnig-style flute, I’ve noticed there isn’t too much on this site about them. From what I can gather from other sources they came in when the Boehm style had already spread, and were the last attempt by proponents of the simple system design to produce a flute that could compete in volume and intonation with the fully-keyed flutes.
Are there any videos or recordings of Irish players on this kind of flute? I know there are Radcliff and Boehm players, but maybe the Schwedler and other systems didn’t make it to the UK/Ireland area (they seem to have been particularly popular in Germany)? Anyone out there now with one? I’ve only had a couple days so far on mine, but I can get a great “Irish” sound out of it, even if it doesn’t have the normal look.
At the time Schwedler flutes where popular in Germany they were probably too expensive for Irish people to buy them…!
Meyer type of flutes were cheaper and available in larger numbers.
Nowadays, people playing simple system flutes may not like the top two holes “brille” and the metal headjoint.
I think it´s mostly about aesthetics, as well as the fact that they are not easily available outside Germany.
Not Irish, but you may enjoy this Iranian music video
There was an Irish trad musician from some years back who I think was playing one, and there are videos of him on YouTube. I even bookmarked it (as I was considering buying a Schwedler at the time)… but, I have too many bookmarks. I will have to dig through them later.
Flutemakers like Brendan McMahon and Eugene Lambe made simple system flutes with a reform head. These are played by traditional players but I can’t recall seeing (m)any with the full keywork.
That´s probably a German flute but not a Schwedler.
Yes, I remember seeing some people in Ireland (not so many though) playing flutes with a metal headjoint, but the type on headjoint alone doesn´t make a flute Schwedler style.
In the picture there´s Tara Bingham/Diamond, a very good flute player. She wasn´t playing that flute the couple of times I saw her.
the type on headjoint alone doesn´t make a flute Schwedler style.
That’s why I said :
Flutemakers like Brendan McMahon and Eugene Lambe made simple system flutes with a reform head. These are played by traditional players but I can’t recall seeing (m)any with the full keywork.
Which was an answer of sorts to the OP’s question (and the mention of reform flutes in the thread’s title) : you see reform-style headjoints but Schwedler style flutes are like hen’s teeth.
Fluteplayers top to bottom : Siobhan Ni Chonorain, John Griffin (with Pete Haugh (acc) and Paddy Galvin (fid), JP Downes
Well count me in soon:
I purchased one almost by mistake. I put in the opening bid but figured someone else would go higher. This Huller has a reform head and some extra keys but no brille keys
I’ve thought the few Lorenzo has sold have sounded great.
My Huller eventually arrived. Seller had put the wrong address. Luckily it’s 440. It really is a great flute.
Rather ‘modern’ sounding relatively but great tuning, volume, feel.
Thanks to Lorenzo for highlighting this type of flute.
Aesthetically I don’t care for its ‘modern feel’
(My favourite flute is a very old Monzani)
But playing wise it’s class.
Also the left hand third finger hole is arched a bit like on say a Casey Burns folk flute but not as much.
A nice touch.
The only complaint is it feels bottom heavy and doesn’t balance well in the hand, but it’s not a really an issue.
I’m playing on the original pads as well. Once cleaned up and padded it will be a great flute.
I’ll try and post a clip
They do look similar though eheh:
