Johann Christoph Denner (1655-1707), came to Nuremberg about 1666 and began learning to be a horn-turner with his father. Later he started making woodwind instruments in the French style based on instruments he saw which were just then beginning to spread into Germany. In 1696 he petitioned for master's rights together with Johann Schell (1660--1732) and in 1697 the two were granted rights for the 'manufacture of French musical instruments consisting chiefly of oboes and recorders [flandadois]'. Johann Christoph's two sons Jacob Denner (1681-1735) and Johann David Denner (1691-1764) both learned the craft of instrument making from their father. Jacob was working for the Medici court in Florence in spring 1708 and deliveries of instruments made by him, including clarinets (the earliest references to this instrument), are recorded from 1710 onwards. He was granted master's rights before 1716. Jacob was also a professional performer: he was mentioned as a member of the Nuremberg Stadtpfeiferei in 1705 and attained its highest post in 1727. His funeral sermon provides many biographical details and praises his skill on the oboe, 'which he handled so finely ... and played so admirably that his like was never heard in Nuremberg'. Johann David was a 'musician, also maker of oboes, bassoons and flutes', according to the address at his funeral. He succeeded to his father's workshop but acquired master's rights unusually late, in 1736, when he was 45 years of age. Jacob apparently set up on his own, with the result that there were two different workshops producing instruments.
The outstanding importance of the Denners was recognized by their contemporaries. Of particular significance is Doppelmayr's appraisal expressly ascribing the invention of the clarinet to Johann Christoph, together with improvements to the racket and the chalumeau. Although no clarinet by Johann Christoph has been preserved (the existing instruments bearing the mark 'I.C. DENNER' are by Johann David), much evidence indicates that the instrument originated with the Denner family in Nuremberg. The fame of the Denners, based on their invention of the clarinet and on Doppelmayr's Historische Nachricht, was passed down through the centuries; Johann Christoph even attained the status of operetta hero in Der Klarinettenmacher, by Friedrich Weigmann and G.R. Kruse (Berlin, 1912). More than 150 woodwind instruments from the Denner workshops have been preserved (see Young): recorders of all pitches, both traditional models and those described as 'French flutes'; transverse flutes in three sections with a C foot as well as the earliest flutes in four sections; shawms and oboes of various sizes; chalumeaux and clarinets; rackets, dulcians and bassoons; and cornetts. Some of the early instruments show clearly the influence of French models, but further developed through the experience born of musical practice. There are both luxuriously grand and plainer models, but all are of high quality. It is difficult to ascribe instruments to individual makers since masters' marks were inherited in Nuremberg. Three distinct marks were used by members of the Denner family: 'D' on its own; 'I.C. DENNER' in scroll , with a 'D' and sometimes also an 'I' underneath; and 'I. DENNER' in scroll with 'ID' beneath it, with a tree between the letters.
(Abridged and Adapted from Grove's Online Encyclopedia of Music)
| Maker | Recorder Model | Recorder Size | Pitch | Material | Pieces | Holes | Fingering | Comments | List Price | Our | |
| Mollenhauer |
Morgan Denner
 | Alto | 440 | Brazilian Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New - Very easy high notes. Excellent quality instrument at a very moderate price! |
| $449 | |
| Yamaha |
Denner | Alto | 440 | Ebony | Three | Double | English | Used - mint condition ebony Denner! |
| $589 | |
| Mollenhauer |
Morgan Denner (Special
Edition)
 | Alto | 440 | Brazilian Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New - Soloistic tone! Special quality instrument at a very reasonable! |
| $1195 | |
| Guido Klemisch |
J.C. Denner Handfluyt | Soprano van Eyck - Praeludium (X) van Eyck - Prins Roberts Masco (X) | 466 | Plumwood | One | Single | Jambe de Fer | New - Lightning quick response with nice chiff! - perfect for van Eyck! | $1550 | $1550 | |
| Mollenhauer |
Morgan Denner (Special
Edition)
 | Alto | 415 | Grenadilla | Three | Double | English | New - Soloistic tone! Special quality instrument at a very reasonable price! |
| $1529 | |
| Andreas Kung |
Denner |
Alto | 415 | Grenadilla | Three | Double | English | Used - Mint Condition! - Revoiced by Andreas Kueng Sept 5, 2009 to play like new! |
|
$1850 | |
| Ralf Netsch | Denner |
Alto | 415 | European Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New - Hand-picked by me at the 2011 Boston Early Music Festival! | $1650 | $1850 | |
| Ralf Ehlert |
Denner |
Alto Telemann Fantasie in F | 415 | Boxwood | Three | Double | English | Used - Very Fine Condition. Perfect instrument for Telemann and Bach! |
| $2150 | |
| von Huene |
Denner |
Alto |
415 | European Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New - Beautiful tone for professional or advanced player! Hand-selected by Charles Fischer at BEMF 2011 | $2300 | $2300 | |
| Paul Richard |
Denner |
Voice Flute Hotteterre Premiere Suite |
415 | Plumwood | Three | Double | English | New - Warm dark tone throughout the range |
$1950 |
||
| Adrian Brown |
Denner | Voice Flute | 415 | Olivewood | Three | Double | English | Used - in mint condition. Great projecting tone with slight chiff! These instruments have a five year waiting list! | $2950 | $3750 | |
| Ernst Meyer |
Denner |
Steger/Sammartini(X)
Alto | 440 | European Boxwood | Three | Double | English | Used - Mint condition professional instrument from the workshop of Ernst Meyer, who has a very long waiting list. Takes more breath than most recorders and produces a very powerful sound, with just a bit of breathiness. Has Synpor block to prevent clogging. . |
| $3500 | |
| Ralf Ehlert |
Denner | Alto | 415 | Stained Boxwood | Three | Double | English | Used - As New! - Barely used. Perfect instrument for Telemann and Bach! |
|
SOLD to the gentleman in Hamilton, NY 1/12/2011 |
|
| Tom Prescott |
J. Denner |
Tenor | 415/440 |
European Boxwood |
Four | Single w/Brass Key | English | Used - Mint condition! The original on which this instrument is based is one of the finest examples of Jacob Denner's work. It is a part of the former Robert Rosenbaum collection, now in Japan. |
|
SOLD to the gentleman in Elk Grove, CA 1/20/2011 |
|
| Andreas Kung |
Denner | Alto | 415 | Grenadilla | Three | Double | English | Used - Mint Condition! - Revoiced by Andreas Kueng Sept 5, 2009 to play like new! |
| SOLD! | |
| Ralf Netsch | Denner |
Sopranino | 415 | European Boxwood | Two | Double | English | New - Sweet-toned and responsive nino. Good ergonomics even for larger hands. | $975 | SOLD! | |
| Tom Prescott |
J. Denner | Tenor | 415 |
European Boxwood | Three | Single w/Brass Key | English | Used - Mint condition! The original on which this instrument is based is one of the finest examples of Jacob Denner's work. It is a part of the former Robert Rosenbaum collection, now in Japan. The strong low register and agile upper range combine with a bright, reedy tone to make this instrument the ultimate tenor recorder for the demanding player. The long, thin beak and beautifully detailed footpiece enhance its pleasing appearance. |
|
SOLD! |
|
| Ernst Meyer |
Denner |
Steger/Sammartini(X)
Alto | 415 | European Boxwood | Three | Double | English | Used - Mint condition professional instrument from the workshop of Ernst Meyer, who has a very long waiting list. Takes more breath than most recorders and produces a very powerful sound, with just a bit of breathiness. Has Synpor block to prevent clogging. This is the model used by Maurice Steger.in his recent Sammartini CD. |
| SOLD! to the gentleman in Ann Arbor 3/3/2008 | |
| Paul van der Linden |
Denner
 | Voice Flute | 415 | European Boxwood | Three | Double | English | Used - Excellent condition and tone. Very strong upper and mid-range with solid bottom. Paul van der Linden is currently making baroque oboes. |
| SOLD! to the gentleman in Ann Arbor 3/3/2008 | |
| Fern (David Coomber) |
Denner | Alto | 415 |
European Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New - Professional quality at a very reasonable price! | SOLD! to the lady in Menlo Park 12/15/2007 | ||
| Jacqueline Sorel |
Denner
| Alto | 415 | Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New - Excellent Denner copy in beautiful natural European boxwood! |
| SOLD! to the Brazilian lady in Bloomington 12/07/2007 | |
| Fern (David Coomber) |
Denner | Alto | 415 |
European Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New - Professional quality at a very reasonable price! |
SOLD! 5/15/2007 to the gentleman in St. Louis |
||
| Jacqueline Sorel |
Denner
 | Alto | 415 | Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New - Excellent Denner copy in beautiful stained European boxwood! |
|
SOLD! 7/15/2007 to the lady in Virginia |
|
| Ralf Ehlert |
Denner
 | Alto | 415 | Lightly Stained Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New - Haunting tone quality! Perffect for Telemann and Bach. Solid low g and f with no burbles! |
|
SOLD! 4/15/2007 to the gentleman in Instanbul |
|
| Stephan Blezinger |
Denner
| Alto | 415 | Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New - Incredible power! Perfect for Concertos. |
| SOLD to the gentleman in Italy | |
| Guido Klemisch |
Denner (X)
 | Voice Flute | 415 | Boxwood | Three | Single | Baroque | Used - Revoiced and cleaned 9/10/2003 by Rob Turner. Now has lovely more open sound! |
|
SOLD! 2/15/2007 to the lady in Utah | |
| Jean-Luc Boudreau |
Denner | Alto | 415 | Boxwood w/two ivory mountings | Three | Double | English | Used - Rich tone. Beautiful Instrument at Excellent value! |
|
SOLD to the gentleman in Ashland 11/28/2005 |
|
| Rob Turner |
JC Denner (the father)
| Alto | 440 | Plumwood | Three | Double | English |
Used - Mint condition - beautiful sound - lovely chiff on the high notes
- original pitch at A440! This one is the mate to the other instrument below which is now in my personal collection! |
|
SOLD
to the tall gentleman in Hawaii 10/27/2005 |
|
| Jacqueline Sorel |
Denner (X)
| Alto | 415 | Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New - Mellow Tone..Smooth High Notes! |
|
SOLD 9/15/2005 | |
| Rob Turner | JC
Denner (the father)
| Alto | 440 | Plumwood | Three | Double | English | Used - Mint condition - beautiful sound - original pitch at A440! |
| SOLD (personal collection) 11/12/2004 | |
| Guido Klemisch |
Denner1 (X) Denner2 (X) | Alto | 415 | Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New - Superb German style instrument - great for Telemann and Bach |
|
SOLD 9/5/2004
| |
| Ralf Ehlert | Denner
 | Alto | 415 | Stained Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New - Very easy response on high notes w/direct tone - great tuning |
| SOLD to the gentleman from Google 10/15/2003 | |
| Peter Van der Poel | Denner | Voice Flute | 415 | Boxwood | Three | Double | English | New!! Beautiful Voice Flute from a Master Maker! |
|
SOLD to the gentleman in the East Bay 9/13/2003 |
| Telephone: | (812) 339-5870 |
| email: | bizweb5@yahoo.com |
| Address: | Charles Fischer/Unicorn Music 2324 Linden Hill Dr. Bloomington, IN 47401 |
| SkypID: | UnicornMusic |
