[Magdalen] Friedrich von Huene (20 Feb. 1929 – 8 May 2016)

[James Oppenheimer-Crawford]

My all-time fav' alto is a Palisander Rottenburgh, and I also have the
tenor in the same model. I just managed to get one of the last tenors still
made with ivory rings. That was my first major instrument purchase. I took
about two years, looking at various instruments, playing this one and that
one. I found a boxwood one that was marvelous, but it was also handmade and
out of my price range.  One day as a workshop the von Huene Early Music
shop was in attendance and I tried a bunch of instruments.  This (rather
unassuming, actually) rosewood or Palisander model just felt like it was
made for me. I've been playing it for ages, and it's never disappointed
me.  It has taken me to the highest notes of the range with assurance and
delightful clarity.  Makes me regret that I ever put the instrument down
(while earning my M.Div., something had to give), and that I didn't take
classes earlier.

I was lukewarm toward my tenor for decades, but I now have developed the
chops to play it fairly well, and love it dearly.  These are especially
precious instruments because Friedrich v. Huene designed the Rottenburgh
line for Moeck about forty years ago.  Goodness, what a splendid job he
did!  Thank you, from me and thousands of other amateurs, Friedrich!!

James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
*“A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved,
except in memory. LLAP**”  -- *Leonard Nimoy

On Wed, May 18, 2016 at 2:50 AM, P. Dan Brittain <pdan.brittain at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Just saw this - my thanks for posting it.
>
> On Sat, May 14, 2016 at 12:27 AM, James Oppenheimer-Crawford <
> oppenheimerjw at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >          Friedrich von Huene (20 Feb. 1929 – 8 May 2016)
> >
> >
> >
> > One of the legends of the Early Music World has passed the baton to a new
> > generation.  Friedrich von Huene died on May the eighth.  He was the
> > founder and prime mover of Von Huene Workshop and Early Music Shop of New
> > England.
> >
> >
> > He is best known as one of the finest recorder makers in the world. The
> > list of his accomplishments are awesome. I recall once visiting a music
> > shop in Germany and seeing the displays for Moeck (he was largely
> > responsible for their very successful Rottenburgh line) and so forth, and
> > then the very best recorders – von Huene’s. A few years ago, another
> > legend, LaNoue Davenport, commented that “all of the finest recorder
> > players have his instruments.” The family continues the tradition.
> >
>
>  I had/have a set of Moeck rothenburgh recorders. Thanks to Uncle Sam, I
> lived in Heidelberg in the early 70's. My recorders all came from Musikhaus
> Hochstein on Heidelberg's Hauptstrasse.
> Prices were very reasonable. My alto was DM300, which was about $120. It
> now lists at $700, depending on the dealer.
>
> (Sold my soprano a few years ago but still have a sopranino and alto in
> Rosewood (palisander) with ivory trim (we didn't know then about the animal
> trade problems), and a tenor in maple. Am wishing my arthritis didn't make
> it so difficult to play any more.
>
> --
> P. Dan Brittain
> Harrison, Arkansas
>
> http//:pdanbrittain.com
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