Peter Bressan (1663 - 1731) was one of the most important baroque recorder makers.  He was born in France and  baptized Pierre Jaillard. In 1678 he was apprenticed to a wood turner in Bourg for two years; he then left Bourg, but it is not known where he learnt instrument making, although this was most probably in Paris. His treble recorders are similar to those of his contemporary Jean-Jacques Rippert. He came to England in 1688, and is first mentioned as Brazong or Bresong in English archives in 1691 as one of the 'hautboys' who accompanied William III to Holland. The James Talbot Manuscript (GB-Och Music 1187, c1695; see Baines) shows that he was already a leading London maker of flutes, recorders and oboes.

 

In the 16th and 17th centuries Bressan's residence had been the town house of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, although by Bressan's day it had been divided up; this explains the use of the red rose of Lancaster in his mark (P I/Bressan/cinquefoil rose).  Bressan was a friend of James Paisible, who in 1721 appointed him an executor of his estate in England (the other was Peter La Tour, later Bressan's principal creditor).

 

Bressan published violin sonatas by Castrucci (1718) and violin or flute sonatas by Barsanti (1724). He subscribed to J.C. Gillier's Receuil d'airs francois (1723) and to J.E. Galliard's Hymn of Adam and Eve (1728). His house contained a room large enough for exhibitions. In 1725 John Byrom, author of the epigram on Handel and Bononcini, bought a flute from Bressan, which cost five guineas. The London newspapers of about 6 May 1731 report his death in Tournai, describing him as 'that celebrated artist in making flutes'. An inventory of his house shows that he made all the contemporary wind instruments, and indicates his interest in the fine arts, itemizing some 76 pictures, prints, portraits and busts.

 

As to Bressan's instruments, some three flutes and 48 recorders survive. The recorders consist of one 4th flute (B), 20 altos (F), ten voice flutes (D), 11 tenors (C) and six basses (F). Except for the basses most are scaled in total external length in the ratios B: 3/4; F: 1; D: 6/5; and C: 4/3.

 

(abridged and adapted from Grove's)

MakerRecorder ModelRecorder SizePitchMaterialPieces

Holes

Fingering

Comments

List Price

Our
Price

Coolsma Bressan
Alto415Flamed MapleFiveDouble and SingleEnglish and HotteterreUsed - Excellent condition with ivory thumb bushing and expertly re-voiced by Lee Collins in June, 2007 to play better than new! Has two bodies so that you can also play with single holes and Hotteterre fingering! $2450

$2150

David Coomber Bressan
Alto440European Boxwood w/ivory thumb bushingThreeDoubleEnglish New - Premium instrument from the workshop of New Zealand maker David Coomber! Typical Bressan sound, but a bit easier-blowing than the Ehlert Bressan $1950

New
$2150

Joachim Rohmer Bressan

Corelli
Corelli/Dorothee Oberlinger

Alto

415 Stained Boxwood Three Double English New - Complex-toned instrument. Perfect for Italian and French Music as well as Handel and Purcell! Listen to Dorothee Oberlinger play this model on her new Italian CD! $2050

(3 In Stock)
$2150

Joachim Rohmer Stanesby Jr

 
Alto 415 Stained Boxwood Three Double English New - Responsive instrument. Perfect for  Telemann as well as Handel and Purcell! $2050

$2150

Joachim Rohmer Bressan
Voice Flute 415 Plumwood Three Double English New - remarkably easy high notes with strong low notes. Plumwood has beautiful grain and color and is light and easy to hold. Includes three tuning rings so that octaves can be played in tune if the head needs to be pulled out! $2050

$2050

Ralf Ehlert Bressan

Ehlert copy on top, Bressan original in Dayton Miller Collection on bottom, shown for comparison purposes.
Eloy Cortinez/Bach(X)415Lightly Stained BoxwoodThreeSingleHotteterre Used - Revoiced by maker May, 2008. Slight warping of middle joint does not affect tuning. Perfect for Purcell, Handel, Corelli, and Hotteterre! Solid low g and f with no burbles! $2750$2350
von Huene Bressan

Boismortier

Voice Flute

415 Stained Boxwood w/art Ivory Mounts Three Double English Used - mint condition. Thumbhole in pristine condition! Very strong tone for a VF throughout the range! $2500 $2250
Ralf Ehlert Bressan
Oblinger/Ose Keller(X)
Eloy Cortinez/Bach(X) 
415Lightly Stained BoxwoodThreeDoubleEnglishNew - Perfect for Purcell, Handel, Corelli, and Hotteterre! Solid low g and f with no burbles! $21502 in stock!
New $2350
Stephan BlezingerItalian? Schell?
Jenkins - Air
Jenkins - Courant
Tenor415European
Boxwood
ThreeDouble EnglishNew - Based on an instrument found in Leipzig with no maker's marks. Blezinger thinks it's of Italian origin. I think it's from Nurnberg, probably by Schell, based on the turning. In any case it's the most powerful keyless baroque tenor now being made! The ergonomics are excellent and even players with small hands can get the low C! On top of everything else, the tone is supple and smooth even through the high notes. $2750

$2750

Fred MorganBressan
Soprano415 Ebony
ThreeDoubleEnglishUsed - VERY RARE!! Excellent condition. Suitable for Collectors and Professionals. Very minor wear to thumbhole and slight discoloration of lip (see photo). $5,750 O.B.O.$5,750
O.B.O.
Ralf EhlertBressan
Soprano415Stained Boxwood ThreeDoubleEnglish New - beautiful Bressan sound for solo sonatas! $1850SOLD7/22/2008
to the professional recorder player in Atlanta.
 
Joachim Rohmer Bressan
Tenor 415 European Boxwood Three Double English New - Full-bodied keyless tenor in beautiful European boxwood!. The instrument has remarkably easy high notes with strong low notes. $2450 SOLD 6/23/2008
to the
gentleman
in St. Louis
 
Ralf EhlertBressan
Soprano415Stained Boxwood ThreeDoubleEnglish New - beautiful Bressan sound for solo sonatas! $1950SOLD 6/21/2008
to the Oberlin Conservatory
Ralf Ehlert Bressan
Oblinger/Ose Keller(X)
Eloy Cortinez/Bach(X) 
415Lightly Stained Boxwood w/Artificial Ivory MountsThreeDoubleEnglish New - Perfect for Purcell, Handel, Corelli, and Hotteterre! ! Solid low g and f with no burbles! $2650 SOLD!  to the gentleman in Sweden 3/22/2008
Tim Cranmore Bressan
Alto
Bressan (X)
405Boxwood w/artificial ivory mountsThreeSingleBaroque New - Exact copy of original Bressan recorder at the original low pitch! You can play this recorder along with CD's made with original Bressan instruments by such players as Frans Bruggen, Hugo Reynes, Walter van Hauwe and Kees Boeke. $2050
SOLD!  to the Japanese Gentleman in Cambridge 11/15/2007

 

David OhanessianBressan
Alto392Stained BoxwoodThreeDoubleEnglish Used - lovely dark tone which is perfect for French baroque music at Opera Pitch. Revoiced by Patrick Von Huene June 2007 for fuller sound. $1850 SOLD!
to the gentleman in Valenciennes, France

10/10/2007

Ralf Netsch Bressan
Voice Flute (Tenor in D) 415 Flamed Boxwood with artificial ivory thumb bushing Three Double Baroque New - Wonderfully rich tone and excellent intonation make this a perfect instrument for the baroque flute repertoire. $1500 SOLD!
to the gentleman in Italy

08/19/2005  

Fred MorganBressan
Alto415Boxwood (detail of thumb hole)
ThreeDoubleEnglish Used - VERY RARE!! Pristine condition. Excellent for Collectors and Professionals. Beautiful haunting tone with full low notes and singing high notes. $5,000 SOLD
to the professional recorder player in Belgium
07/09/2005
Fred MorganBressan
Alto415/440Boxwood (detail of thumb holes)
 
ThreeDoubleEnglish Used - VERY RARE!! Two centers AND foot joints! Pristine condition. Excellent for Collectors and Professionals. It plays beautifully at A415 and is the nicest baroque recorder I have ever seen or heard at A440 after successful revoicing by Ralf Ehlert! $6,500

SOLD to the gentleman in Japan
07/07/2005
 

Ralf EhlertBressan
Alto415BoxwoodThreeDoubleEnglish New - Superb tone quality! Perfect for Handel and Corelli $1950 SOLD to the gentleman in New York
07/02/2005
Joachim RohmerBressan
Alto415Stained BoxwoodThreeDoubleEnglish New - Dark toned instrument. Perfect for Handel and Purcell! $1750 SOLD to professional recorder player in the SF Bay Area
3/07/2005
Ralf EhlertBressan
Alto415Stained BoxwoodThreeDoubleEnglish New - Superb tone quality! Perfect for Handel and Corelli $1950 SOLD to the traverso and recorder playing gentleman in Hawaii 7/25/2004
Joachim RohmerBressan
Tenor415PlumwoodThreeDoubleEnglish New - remarkably easy high notes with strong low notes. $1550 SOLD to the gentleman in Southern California 7/17/2004
Beha & GibbonsBressan
Alto415Stained BoxwoodThreeDoubleBaroque Used - Full rich tone, reminiscent of Prescott $1500 SOLD to upper intermediate player 6/23/2004
KinoshitaBressan
Alto415BoxwoodThreeDoubleEnglish Used, excellent condition $1500 SOLD to  recorder player in Japan
9/10/2003
Fred
Morgan
Bressan
Alto415Ebony
w/Ivory Beak
ThreeSingleEnglish Superb early Morgan $5000

SOLD to collector in Hawaii
12/31/2001

 

Picture

OriginalCopyComments
Bressan DMC 0127 - MiddleTop: Ehlert, Bottom: CranmoreNote: the Ehlert and Cranmore instruments were NOT modeled on the DMC Bressan! Instruments shown for comparative purposes only. Photo by Charles Fischer
Bressan DMC 0127 - MiddleLeft: Ehlert, Bottom: CranmoreNote: the Ehlert and Cranmore instruments were NOT modeled on the DMC Bressan! Instruments shown for comparative purposes only. Photo by Charles Fischer
Bressan  DMC Voice Flute, stained boxwood with ivory mounts. Photo by Charles Fischer
Bressan  DMC Voice Flute heads (top and bottom) compared with Ehlert Stanesby VF head. Photo by Charles Fischer
Bressan  DMC Voice Flute center compared with Ehlert Stanesby VF center Photo by Charles Fischer
Bressan 4th Flute, Oxford The 4th flute is a soprano in Bb, useful for Dieupart suites.  Stained boxwood.EhlertPhoto by Charles Fischer
Bressan Alto, Oxford - Stained boxwood with ivory mountsCranmore, EhlertPhoto by Charles Fischer
Bressan alto in boxwood and ivory, Musikinstrumentenmuseum, BerlinMany makers produce Bressan copies, but not necessarily this specific instrument.Photo by Charles Fischer
Bressan - Paris All the pictures from the Paris Museum are far too small. If anyone has better digital pictures PLEASE email them to me and I will update them on this site!!!

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A. Baines: 'James Talbot's Manuscript, 1: Wind Instruments', GSJ, i (1948), 9--26

E. Halfpenny: 'The Bass Recorders of Bressan', GSJ, viii (1955), 27--31

E. Halfpenny: 'Biographical Notices of the Early English Woodwind-making School, c.1650--1750', GSJ, xii (1959), 44--52

M.A. Byrne: 'Bressan', GSJ, xxxvi (1983), 2--28; xxxvii (1984), 102--11

W. Waterhouse: 'A Case of Flutes by Mr Bressan', GSJ, xlvi (1993), 162--3

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