MY CRAFT
I believe that every person carries a musician, an artist and a creative spirit within.
My work is about making that creativity accessible through music.
Pentatonic flutes offer a simple and intuitive way to explore sound. Even without previous musical experience, they invite you to improvise freely and discover your own musical voice.
The Woods
Every flute begins long before the first tool touches the wood.
Trees that have grown for decades, sometimes even centuries, fill me with deep respect. Knowing that they continue their journey as musical instruments, accompanying people for many years, is a privilege.
I work exclusively with carefully selected native woods from Southern Germany, including maple, apple, pear, beech, birch, oak, ash, alder, spruce, hazel, chestnut, larch, walnut and Swiss pine.
In an increasingly global and anonymous world, it is important to me to work with materials that grow close to home.
Every piece of wood is carefully selected, thoroughly seasoned and individually inspected before entering my workshop.
THE MAKING PROCESS
Building a flute is far more than a sequence of technical steps. To me, it reflects life itself: countless small decisions, patience and care gradually become something whole. Every step deserves the same attention, because each one contributes to the final voice of the instrument.
After years of careful drying, the wood is prepared, cut into two matching halves and shaped into the internal chambers of the flute.
Next comes its heart — the sound mechanism. The air channel and splitting edge are shaped with great precision, as even the smallest adjustments influence the instrument's response and tone.
The two halves are then joined together, gradually revealing the body of the flute.
The Construction Process
Der Bau einer Flöte ist für mich weit mehr als die Summe einzelner Arbeitsschritte. Er erinnert mich immer wieder an das Leben selbst: Viele kleine Entscheidungen, Geduld und Sorgfalt formen am Ende etwas Ganzes. Jeder Arbeitsschritt verdient die gleiche Aufmerksamkeit – denn jeder von ihnen trägt zum späteren Klang des Instruments bei.
Nach einer schonenden Trocknung über mehrere Jahre wird das Holz zunächst auf Maß gebracht und in zwei Leisten aufgetrennt. Auf ihnen zeichne ich die beiden Kammern der späteren Flöte an und fräse sie sorgfältig aus. Anschließend werden alle Flächen von Hand geschliffen.
Danach entsteht das Herzstück der Flöte – der Tonmechanismus. Luftkanal und Labium werden mit größter Präzision gefertigt, denn bereits kleinste Veränderungen beeinflussen Klang und Ansprache.
Anschließend werden die beiden Hälften miteinander verleimt. Aus den zuvor ausgefrästen Halbkreisen entsteht der runde Innenraum der Flöte. Nun beginnt sich das Instrument langsam zu zeigen.
Once cured, the exterior is carefully carved, planed, filed and sanded entirely by hand until its final form emerges.
The finger holes are drilled and slowly enlarged while the flute is repeatedly played and fine- tuned until the desired tuning is achieved.
Finally, several coats of natural hardwax oil protect the wood while revealing the full beauty of its grain.
Only when the sound, craftsmanship and playability fully satisfy my standards does the flute leave my workshop.
The most rewarding moment is hearing the very first clear note of a newly finished flute. At that instant, a piece of wood becomes an instrument, ready to become part of someone else's story.
Nach dem Trocknen wird der Flötenkörper von Hand gehobelt, gefeilt und geschliffen, bis seine endgültige Form erreicht ist. Danach fertige ich den Block, der den Luftstrom präzise auf das Labium lenkt und die Tonerzeugung ermöglicht.
Zum Schluss werden die Fingerlöcher Schritt für Schritt gebohrt und behutsam vergrößert, bis die gewünschte Stimmung erreicht ist. Jede Flöte wird dabei immer wieder gespielt, geprüft und fein abgestimmt.
Mehrere Schichten eines hochwertigen Hartwachsöls schützen das Holz und bringen seine natürliche Maserung zum Vorschein. Erst wenn Klang, Verarbeitung und Spielgefühl meinen Ansprüchen entsprechen, verlässt die Flöte meine Werkstatt.
Der schönste Moment ist für mich der erste klare Ton einer neuen Flöte. In diesem Augenblick wird aus einem Stück Holz ein Instrument – bereit, Teil der Geschichte eines anderen Menschen zu werden.
The Sound
No two flutes sound alike.
The choice of wood, construction and tuning gives every instrument its own voice. Some sound warm and gentle, others clear and bright.
To me, a beautiful tone is one that touches the heart and invites you to keep playing.
TUNING
Depending on your preferences, I build flutes in a range of keys between B♭ minor and D minor.
By default, my instruments are tuned to A = 440 Hz, allowing them to blend naturally with other instruments.
Alternative reference pitches, such as A = 432 Hz, are also available upon request.
Die Stimmung
Depending on your wishes, I make flutes in different pitches between A-flat minor and D minor. By default, I tune my instruments to 440 Hz, so they can be played with other instruments without any problems. Other reference frequencies such as 432 Hz are also possible on request.
The Finish
Every flute receives several coats of high-quality hardwax oil. This protects the wood for many years while enhancing the natural beauty of its grain.
The Finish
Finally, each flute is treated several times with a high-quality hard wax oil. This protects the wood permanently and at the same time brings out the natural beauty of its grain.
