Mollenhauer Recorders: Denner, Modern Alto, Helder, Dream

March, 2008 Price List

 

Mollenhauer Denner Recorders

These instruments are suitable for demanding players of both solo and consort work. The design concept is based on late baroque construction principles along with consideration for modern requirements concerning sound, attack and pitch. The different wood types offer a variety of sounds. Baroque fingering, pitch 442 Hz. Sizes: sopranino to great bass. All instruments have double holes or keys for the bottom two notes. Design by Fred Morgan.   Prices                                                                                                   Top of Page  

Fred Morgan Denner Altos

Australia -- country of immense wide open spaces and awesome landscapes... Here lived and worked one of the most outstanding makers of our times:  Frederick Morgan. 

No one else in his craft has received such worldwide recognition.  The list of those who have played his instruments in concerts and on CD's reads like the "Who’s Who" of the international recorder elite.  

Fred Morgan has left an enormously valuable legacy: the results of decades of research, instruments, designs...  

The purpose of the extensive and forward-looking partnership between Fred Morgan's wife, Ann, and Mollenhauer is to preserve, evaluate and develop Fred Morgan's lifetime work.  

Basing his model on the original Copenhagen instrument made by Jacob Denner (1681-1735), Fred Morgan initially developed a Denner Alto recorder with modern pitch (a' = 440Hz) for the Danish recorder player MIchala Petri.

Fred Morgan thus created a recorder with all advantages of the original instrument, great dynamic stability and above all a rich sound in the higher registers, fulfilling the highest demands.

Our "Mollenhauer and Morgan" Denner alto recorder was developed on the basis of this instrument and Fred Morgan’s original designs. It is now a part of our Denner Ensemble Set, which has already received a special award, the German Prize for Musical Instruments, for the Denner Soprano recorder.

In this way Fred Morgan's wish will be fulfilled: through serial production of the highest quality, the results of his research will become available to a wide circle of recorder players.

Denner                                                 Top of Page  

Click on highlighted entry for link to picture.

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Mollenhauer Morgan Edition Denner Alto  

A limited supply of the Morgan edition are manufactured.  This instrument is modeled after the Copenhagen original instrument of Jacob Denner (1681-1735), with modern pitch (a=440Hz), in Zapatero boxwood or European boxwood, and Baroque pitch (a=415Hz) in European boxwood.

The tone holes are strongly undercut with reduced diameters. The design produces the characteristic high-baroque sound qualities: Stability of pitch, modulation and dynamic range. 

Appearance: Zapatero boxwood instruments are historically stained; European boxwood instruments are unstained.

Sound: Each instrument is tuned carefully over an extended period of time.

Thumb hole bushing, threaded joints

Special warranty: 2 years

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Mollenhauer Harmonic Recorders

More and more recorder players are looking for louder recorders with a wider playing range. Only such recorders make it possible to expand the traditional recorder repertoire. These harmonic recorders are built according to totally new principles. With a redesigned bore and carefully adapted key mechanisms, it is possible to overblow the lower tones into perfectly tuned upper tones. Most standard recorders only overblow into weak or out of tune uppers that can serve at best as trill or muted notes. This might seem of little importance at first glance, but the result of this characteristic is truly revolutionary:

* Vastly increased sound volume, especially in the lowest octave, useful for playing with modern instruments and orchestras

* New, fascinating sound characteristics

* Useful playing range well into the 3rd octave

* Easily playable notes at normal volume in the 3rd octave

Harmonic recorders represent the forefront in recorder development: a new generation in the centuries' old recorder family! More information.

The Modern Alto & Soprano Recorders--Mollenhauer and Nikolaj Tarasov

The collaboration between recorder player Nik Tarasov and maker Joachim Paetzold resulted in 1996 in the development of the Modern Alto.  It is the first modern recorder that tollows the principle of Harmonic recorders with pure harmonics and a long bore:  overblowing the first octave will produce clear in-tune harmonics whereas in traditional recorders the resulting sounds are not in tune and can at best be used as trill or alternative fingerings.

Unimportant as it may at firs seem, the ability to produce in-tune harmonics has far reaching consequences for the entire instrument - an incredibly strong and powerful low register and a range extending well into the third octave!

Strong and powerful: This instrument will help you to hold your own when playing with other modern orchestral instruments or with a piano.  It will be equally suitable for playing in a pop, jazz or folk band, in  a string orchestra or a piano trio - this recorder won't go unheard!

A range of almost three octaves:  The easy response and chromatic mobility as well as the extended note range surpasses all traditional models.

Traditional fingering: The Modern Alto used traditional Baroque fingering. Only the notes in the third octave require different fingerings.

SYNPOR block:  The artificial synpor is able to absorb moisture through it micropores.  This way it doesn't swell and remains stable even after long playing sessions.

Choose the voicing of your Modern Alto

Baroque Voicing - Baroque Sound

• Full, round and distinguished sound, assertive even in combination with modern orchestral instruments.

• A range of 2 ½ octaves with easy response.

• Sounds closer to the standard Baroque recorder.

Modern Voicing - Modern Sound

• Strong, assertive and unmistakable - a sound full of character.

• A range of almost 3 octaves! Even, easy response and a clear and brilliant sound right into the highest register.

• Sounds like a cross between a recorder and a flute.

Modern Alto with E-foot

The lengthening of the foot joint and the additional key also result in adding a semitone, e', to the low register and opens up a host of additional alternative and trill fingerings.

Modern Alto Review         Narcisse Bousque Grande Caprice 1 (mp3; 932 kb); Johann Sebastian Bach - Allemande aus der Partita BWV 1013 (mp3; 409 kb)

Modern Alto                                                                           Top of Page

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The Harmonic Tenor/Alto--Mollenhauer and Maarten Helder

These superb new, luxuriously equipped solo alto and tenor recorders with extensive modern keywork were developed by recorder maker Maarten Helder especially for today's demanding players who have greeted the instruments with enthusiasm. This instrument is intended for the professional performer of nineteenth and twentieth century music. 

The harmonic HELDER-recorders are supplied standard with a synthetic Synpore Strathman adjustable block..  This latter "Sound Unit" includes three interchangeable windway roofs and a special mechanism that allows modification of the voicing and control of tone quality and dynamics during performance by the lips, or by an adjustable screw. A 4-key system makes notes easily playable well into the 3rd octave with pure overtones. There is also expanded range below the normal bottom note (on the alto, an E; on the tenor, a B) thanks to a single key for the right little finger. In addition, the tenor now comes standard with a piano key.  Provided with handsome custom-fitted hard case.

 

Expressive, noble and dynamic in its sound: the right instrument for all looking for a new recorder sound.   Assertive and forceful to compete well with modern orchestra instruments: in modern music, jazz, folk or traditional recorder literature.   Extended tone range in the 3rd octave: Completely new opportunities of repertoire in areas that were impossible for recorder players up to now, for example flute literature. The first two octaves have got the familiar ’baroque fingering‘ but accessing the 3rd octave requires new fingerings.   Extended tone range downwards through additional key for E‘ (Alto) or B (Tenor).   Piano key: allows finest dynamic nuances The piano key opens up a small hole in the head piece – the tone sharpens and can be played more softly . This is the way to realise finest dynamic nuances!   The SOUND-UNIT The sound-unit is the upper removable part of the recorder head piece consisting of four parts:   Adjustable block (patent R. Strathmann) Through a little knurled screw at the back side of the recorder head joint, the height of the windway exit can be varied by raising or lowering the block in place. Through this it is possible to adjust changes in the windway height in no time at all, for example by swelling of the block caused by long playing. An additional interesting aspect of the adjustable block is the opportunity to access well directed sound variety through variation of the standard windway height.   Lip-Control The ’Lip-Control‘ is a mechanism to affect the sound during playing: The block can be moved by lip pressure and so it narrows the windway entrance. The player is able to affect the timbre in finest nuances as well as the volume of the particular tone by this highly sensitive medium.   Adjustable upper windway The upper windway of the sound-unit is built by a plate that can be varied in height by means of two screws on the back of the recorder. So the height distance between upper windway and labium can be varied – a broad field to experience sound.   Variable windway covers The sound-unit comes with small plates to cover the windway, made of different wood types (rosewood, granadilla, Synpor) that can be placed variably as the upper windway ceiling and fixed with a ring. The different structures of the wood types result in different tone qualities.   Synpor©-block A wood imitating synthetic material with micropores that absorbs condensation without swelling and for this reason keeps its dimensions. So your recorder bears up even against longer exposure to playing.     Guarantee: 2 years guarantee

  Harmonic Recorder Review

Harmonic Tenor/Alto                                                            Top of Page  

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Hard & Soft Cases                               Top of Page  

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Mollenhauer Kynseker Renaissance Recorders

Sopranos and altos now redesigned for much better intonation and tone throughout the range, with advice from Adriana Breukink.

Renaissance recorders according to Hieronymus F. Kynseker (1636-1686), Nurenberg). This model series is constructed following original instruments located in the Germanic National Museum in Nurenberg. We have expanded these models to a complete consort family while maintaining the essential sound characteristics, strong volume, and external shape of the originals. These instruments are especially noteworthy for their stability in the lower register. The fingering is similar to that of baroque instruments (fingering charts). Pitch 440 Hz, single holes/keys. Sizes garklein to great bass in C.

Kynseker Renaissance                                                      Top of Page  

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Mollenhauer Canta Recorders

The external form of this recorder series was developed in cooperation with teachers. Balanced weight makes holding easier. A versatile and reliable ensemble set with homogenous sound character. In natural pearwood or with mahogany stain. Provided with high-quality cloth carrier. Bass recorders in hard case. These instruments have strong lows and easy highs (at least a 2-octave range), with clear, easy speaking.  They are quite impressive and are popular instruments.  Sizes soprano to bass in F.  

Canta Pearwood                                                    Top of Page  

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Mollenhauer Dream Recorders by Adriana Breukink

Shape: Adapted from a medieval recorder, bore based on a van Eyck recorder.

Sound:  A Renaissance recorder with a powerful and robust tone, but with the Baroque two-octave range and fingering.

Tone holes:  Easy for children to find, thus ensuring a confident grip.

Now in soprano (natural, red or blue), alto, tenor and bass, all at AA442 Hz. Top of Page

Dream Recorders, by Adriana Breukink

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Mollenhauer Flutes

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Ordering Information                                                                                                                                                Top of Page

Email, call or write me to order or discuss your needs.  You can't order from my web site--I like to discuss your order with you first.

Many people have told me how much they enjoy my bringing my ‘store’ of instruments to workshops so that they can try many different ones over the course of a few days.  This makes their decision-making process much easier. 

Obviously, when ordering by mail, I can’t send you my whole ‘store’ of instruments to try, but I do try to come as close as is reasonably possible.  All instruments can be ordered on approval.  I am happy to send out two or more instruments for you to compare.  For instance, I could send out two or three rosewood altos, or rosewood, pearwood, grenadilla and  boxwood altos for you to sample.  Then you can play them (please, no more than 15 minutes per day, just as if you were starting the breaking-in process), let your friends try or listen to them, and let a teacher try them.  This gives you some feedback on your choice, and gives you more confidence in your decision. 

I want you to be satisfied with your instrument, and feel under no obligation to buy it if you don’t like it.  A normal time for deciding is approximately one week.  I, of course, expect any returned instruments to be in like-new condition (see below).  Whether you decide to buy an instrument or not, all I ask is that you pay for shipping costs both ways.

Once you have decided on a purchase, I will bill you. 

Email, call or write me to order or discuss your needs.  You can't order from my web site--I like to discuss your order with you first.

 

I had an instrument returned that smelled of cigarette smoke.  The customer did not smoke, but a visitor did.  I haven't yet succeeded in removing the smell.  I can't sell a smoky instrument, so I do not want to send instruments on approval to households where people are allowed to smoke.  If a smoky-smelling (or mildew-smelling) instrument is returned to me, I will not accept it, and you will have bought it, since it is no longer in like-new condition.  In my experience, hardly any recorder players smoke, so this should be a rare occurrence.  So please, no smoke, mildew or lipstick, and brush your teeth before playing--all things you should do if the instrument were yours.  I hope you understand this policy.

 

I don't give out customer contact information to other companies.

 

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Warranty                                                                                                                                                                                Top of Page

Mollenhauer instruments are warranted for two years from the date of purchase against defects in materials or workmanship.  Tuning and voicing is also covered for this same period.  Warranty repair is carried out at the von Huene Workshop.

Von Huene Workshop, Inc./The Early Music Shop of New England 65 Boylston St., Brookline, MA 02445 / USA Tel: +1 (617) 277-8690; Fax: +1 (617) 277-7217 email: Patrick@vonHuene.com