Manufacturer's Description
Continuing our concept of tone and color from our handmade flutes, our Custom Piccolos are known for depth and richness. Their dark sound blends effortlessly with the other members of the woodwind family, as well as the most ethereal upper string section sound.
Sought after by orchestral and solo musicians, each piccolo is hand-tuned and features phenolic tone hole inserts. These tone hole inserts provide an air tight surface for the pad to sit on, which does not deteriorate over time. Available with Sterling Silver or 14K Rose Gold mechanism, you can choose from three different headjoint styles: Classic, Profiled, and Wave.
Our Description
This piccolo is believed to have been made for Meredith Willson, the piccolo player in Toscanini's NBC Orchestra. Willson was famous for his Broadway musical The Music Man.
It is in good condition and is sold as seen. It has a sweet sonority across the range with a good response and warmth of tone.
Please note, there is no case included with this piccolo.
This item is sold “as seen”. It has not been checked in our workshop prior to sale, and this is reflected in the selling price.
About Powell
In 1916, Verne Powell joined the Wm. S. Haynes Company to make wooden flutes and piccolos. By 1926, he was the shop foreman and was running much of the business at Haynes; later that year, he left Haynes to make his own flutes and Verne Q. Powell Flutes, Inc. was incorporated.
The instruments were immediately recognized as the very best a flutist could play and endorsements flowed in from flutists around the globe. In 1928, he completed his first all 14K Gold flute; soon piccolos and alto flutes were added. By 1930 the brand had representation in the Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Baltimore, and New York Orchestras. There were flutes which had a life of their own; #365 the “World’s Fair” Platinum flute of William Kincaid, #900 the only flute ever made entirely of 14K White Gold, #1142 the “Signature” Flute.
In 2016 Verne Q. Powell Flutes, Inc. was purchased by Buffet Crampon, joining nine other brands of wind instruments to complete the largest group of wind instrument manufacturers in the world.
