Vintage Johannes Hammig Silver Flute

Our Description

This flute is indicated to have been made by Johannes Hammig in Freiburg im Breisgau (Hammig are now based in Markneukirchen), and is estimated to have been made in the 1970s, when it was bought by the then 2nd flautist of the Royal Opera House, William Morton. 

That purchase came with a story. It goes that when Morton turned up to play at the opera house having just bought the flute, he turned to the principal flautist — Patricia Lynden — to show her, only for her to produce her also newly procured Hammig; the serial number of the instrument only a digit apart from his own. Thus the sibling flutes played together at the Royal Opera House for a number of years. 

The mechanism of this instrument hosts a number of features rarely seen on modern instruments. Most notably, a left-hand C♯4 key sits next to the G♯ key, facilitating C4–C♯4 trills and other rapid movement between those keys that would otherwise require awkward sliding on the foot-keys, functioning similarly to the alternating pinky fingerings of clarinets. A G6–A6 trill key sits above the 1st standard trill key, positioned such so they can be operated together (operating this trill key alone also produces a G6–A♭6 trill). This ingenious addition trivialises one of the most problematic trills commonly encountered in the repertoire. Where one might find a C♯ trill on a modern flute, there is instead a right-hand G spatula key, which can facilitate faster G–A trills. The Brossa F♯ key also facilitates better sounding and responding F♯s across the range (although most notably on F♯6) and rounds out the keywork additions. This extra keywork is non-intrusive to normal playing, but does notably add some weight to the instrument.

This flute’s tone shares a lot of common ground with the classic French flutes, in part due to the cut of the embouchure, which appears to be a “2” according to Hammig’s scale — directly in the middle between a pure ellipse to a near rectangular embouchure. This gives the player a very balanced response between an open and sonorous sound and gentle and delicate one. 

General Condition

This flute has been fully overhauled and repadded in our workshop, and it is in excellent condition throughout. It has been obviously well-cared for, evidenced by a notable lack of marking for an instrument of this age, excepting a small cosmetic scuff near the headjoint tenon. It has very smooth action across the mechanism. 

Condition Report

Condition can be highly subjective. This information is to be taken as a guide only. E&OE.

• Mechanism (1 to 10): 9
• Overall finish (1 to 10): 7/8
• Padding (1 to 10): 10

Item Details