Alto flute, G
Maker
Altus
Date1972-1977 ca.
Place MadeAzumino, Japan, Asia
Model821E
Serial No.A0589
SignedOn socket of body tube: ALTUS® / K.H.S. MUSICAL / INSTRUMENT CO. LTD. / AO589 (in script)MarkingsOn key mount strap, near top of flute: AAF 821E
Description3 sections: headjoint, one-piece body and barrel, and foot joint. Two headjoints: one straight, one curved. Cylindrical Boehm system with closed holes. Silver-plated brass body and keywork. Sterling silver embouchure plates. Mother-of-pearl-like resin touch-pieces on plateau keys. Drawn tubing and toneholes. 16 touchpieces. Offset G. Closed G-sharp. Briccialdi B-flat key. Split E mechanism. C-sharp trill. C-foot.
Betty Bang Mather, flute professor at the University of Iowa, premiered "Hara," written by Harvey Solberger and dedicated to her, on this flute.
Betty Bang Mather (b. 1927) began her career in the early 1950s as one of the few women in the male-dominated world of flute players. By accepting a job at the University of Iowa in 1952, she also became one of the first full-time, college-level flute instructors in the U.S. Mather was a true scholar, writing and lecturing about music education, the flute, and baroque and classical music. She retired from the university in 1996.
DimensionsOverall length (with straight head, from top of head to bottom of flute, excluding end cap): 848mm
Sounding length (with straight head, from middle of embouchure hole to bottom of flute): 780mm
Straight head: 215mm
Curved head (approximate): 211mm
Body: 460mm
Foot: 174mm
Inner bore at top of head, cap removed: 21.4mm
Inner bore at bottom of head tenon: 25.5mm
Inner bore at bottom of body tenon: 25.3mm
Inner bore at bottom of foot: 25.4mm
Straight head embouchure hole diameter (length X width): 12.9mm X 11.3mm
Curved head embouchure hole diameter (length X width): 13.0mm X 11.1mm
(excluding tenons)
ProvenanceNo known provenance.
Credit LineGift of Betty Bang Mather, 2015
Object number15017
On View
On view
