Powell Flutes Brochure

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VERNE Q. POWELL® FLUTES
C ATA L O G
W
hen Verne Powell started making his own flutes in 1927, he worked
closely with William Kincaid, principal flutist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Origins
an artist who is sometimes described as “The Grandfather of the American Flute
School.” Today’s Powell instruments sustain the characteristic Powell Sound that
resulted from their collaboration. Kincaid’s family tree has produced contemporary
flute artists like Demarre McGill, principal of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
“
One lesson with my teacher, Julius Baker,
is particularly memorable. As I was working
on Andre Caplet’s Reverie et Petite Valse,
Mr. Baker began to reminisce about playing
the same piece, in the same room, during a
lesson with his teacher, William Kincaid.
He then proceeded to play through the piece
in its entirety. Mr. Baker’s absolutely
gorgeous playing was not only teaching me
the Caplet, but was passing on an artistic
heritage to me. I am so proud that my
Powell Flute and I are connected to this
”
lineage of beautiful flute playing.
D emar r e M c Gi ll
p ri n c i pa l f lute of
t h e Da llas Symp h o n y o rc h estra a n d a
G raduat e of t h e C u rt i s i n sti tut e of Musi c
co l o r . f l e x i b i l i t y. pow e r .
the Powell Sound
t h e d e f i n i n g q ua l i t i e s of
e ac h f l ut e , p i cco l o, a n d h e ad j o i n t.
Custom
Custom flutes and piccolos are the
apex of beauty and craftsmanship.
These instruments are the choice
of professionals around the globe.
A large selection of materials and
customizations are available to
truly make this flute “yours.”
Conservatory
The Conservatory flute is an
elegant combination of classic
flute specifications, drawn tone
holes, and today’s modern pinless
mechanism. Available in sterling
silver or Aurumite 9k®, the
Conservatory flute offers
outstanding depth of sound
and a silky-smooth mechanism.
Signature
The sterling silver Signature
flute and the grenadilla Signature
piccolo put the Powell Sound
within the reach of many flutists.
Each instrument is handcrafted
by the same artisans who create
our Custom and Conservatory
instruments at the Powell
workshop in Maynard,
Massachusetts.
Sonare
Sonaré is a family of intermediate
level concert flutes, alto flutes,
and piccolos. These instruments
feature a body and headjoint made
at Powell with the Modern Powell
Scale and Signature headjoints.
The Powell Sonaré piccolo
revolutionized the flute world
with its state-of-the-art, stainless
steel mechanism and American
hardwood body.
π www.PowellFlutes.com/About-us
Custom
P ow e l l’ s Ha n dmad e C ustom f l ut e s ,
characterized by The Powell Sound, have been the gold standard of the
flute world for more than eight decades. These flutes have been celebrated for their flexibility of color, ease of response, and reliability, which is
why Powell instruments made in the 1920s are still being played today.
Every Custom flute continues this tradition and is handmade to exacting
specifications by skilled artisans in our Maynard, Massachusetts workshop. Each is a highly functional instrument as well as a stunning work
of art. The Powell Custom flute is available in a multitude of precious
metals and with a variety of features. T h e c h o i c e i s y ou r s .
Body
M at e r i a l *
M e c h a n i sm
mat e r i a l
Soldered
To n e Ho l e s
D r aw n
To n e Ho l e s
Sterling silver
Aurumite® 14k
Sterling
Sterling
Available
Available
Available
n/a
Ruby Aurumite
9k rose gold
10k yellow gold
Sterling
Sterling
Sterling
Available
Available
Available
n/a
Available
Available
10k yellow gold
14k rose gold
10k yellow gold
Sterling
Available
Available
Available
Available
14k white gold
14k rose gold
14k white gold
19.5k rose gold
19.5k rose gold
19.5k rose gold
Platinum
Platinum
Grenadilla wood**
Grenadilla wood**
Sterling
14k rose gold
14k rose gold
Sterling
10k yellow gold
14k rose gold
Sterling
10k yellow gold
Sterling
14k rose gold
Available
Available
Available
Available
Available
Available
Available
Available
n/a
n/a
n/a
Available
Available
Available
Available
Available
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
F l ut e O pt i o n s
F oot j o i n t
G keys
B footjoint with gizmo
Offset
B footjoint without gizmo
In-line
C footjoint
P i tc h
A-440
A-442
A-444
C ups
American closed
French open
Mec h a n i sm
Pinless
Pinned metal flutes only
custom i z at i o n s
C# trill
D# roller
Split-E
G disc
10k tone holes
14k tone holes
14k tone holes, posts, ribs, rings
Lip plate engraving
Key engraving
* Tubing thicknesses vary by materials, Sterling silver is available in a choice of three tubing thicknesses,
.014”, .016” or .018”; Aurumite has .016” tubing, all gold bodies are .012” and platinum is .010”
** All grenadilla flutes include a pinless mechanism.
Philharmonic
The Philharmonic has a
relatively broad, flat lip plate.
Articulation is crisp and clean,
and the style produces a deep,
rich tone with a broad dynamic
range.
Soloist
The strength and flexibility
of this headjoint allows the
player to fill a hall or perform
the quietest passages easily,
with complete command. The
slightly curved lip plate offers
quick articulation and a full
range of colors.
Headjoints
Venti
Powell has an experienced team of headjoint makers who strive to satisfy
every flutist’s wishes.
tu b i n g
l i p p l at e
wa l l
c r ow n s
Sterling Silver .014"
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver .016"
9k rose gold
9k rose gold
10k yellow gold
Aurumite 9k
Aurumite 14k
Ruby Aurumite
9k rose gold
10k yellow gold
10k yellow gold
14k rose gold
19.5k rose gold
10k yellow gold
14k rose gold
19.5k rose gold
Platinum
14k rose gold
19.5k rose gold
14k rose gold
19.5k rose gold
Platinum
Grenadilla wood
Some material combinations are special order only.
*Signature style is only available with .016” Sterling silver tubing, lip plate and crown.
The Venti was developed by
Mr. Paul Edmund-Davies to
mirror his experience of
singing in a cathedral choir.
This headjoint has excellent
depth of sound through all
three octaves, and a very
resonant and free third octave.
Signature
I & II *
The Signature I style uses the
lip plate of the Soloist style in
combination with a specially
designed wall to produce a
relatively free blowing headjoint with the “Powell Sound.”
The Signature II style is an
easy blowing headjoint with
a big sound.
ConservatoryFlutes
T h e Ha n dmad e C o n s e r vato r y f l ut e
traces its ancestry to Mr. Powell’s first Commercial flute, made in 1928.
Today’s Conservatory models offer the aesthetics of the traditional
Handmade Custom model and The Powell Sound. The Conservatory
flute features French (open) cups, pointed arms, and a fully pinless
mechanism. The Modern Powell Scale is implemented with drawn tone
holes utilizing Powell’s patented, Zinki™ technology, and every flute
comes with a hand-made Custom headjoint. You may also choose a
.016” sterling silver, or an Aurumite® 9k body which is an elegant
combination of 9k rose gold and sterling silver. Additional options are
available as follows.
p i tc h
footjoint**
g keys
A-442
B footjoint
A-442
A-442
A-442
A-442
A-442
A-442
A-442
B footjoint
B footjoint
B footjoint
B footjoint
B footjoint
B footjoint
B footjoint
m e c h a n i ca l
opt i o n s
mod e l #
s i lv e r
M O D EL #
AURUMITE 9k
Inline
50000
50900
Offset
Inline
Offset
Inline
Offset
Inline
Offset
50001
50050
50051
50010
50004
50011
50054
50901
50950
50951
50910
50904
50911
50954
C# trill key
C# trill key
Split-e
Split-e
Split-e, C# trill key
Split-e, C# trill key
*A-444 is also available at no charge.
**C footjoint is avaialable as well.
“
My Powell Conservatory flute is just what I’ve dreamed of. With its
rich, dark sound and fluid mechanism, I can use it in all my worlds –
from the orchestra to jazz festivals and beyond.
N icole Mitchell
”
Jazz Journalists Association, Top Flutist
of the Year, 2010-2013, Professor, University of California, Irvine
Signature Flutes
®
T h e S i g n atu r e f l ut e
features drawn tone holes
Zinki™ Patent Abstract
made with patented Zinki™ technology, pointed arms, and a pinned
A novel musical instrument tone hole forming tool. A body
mechanism with adjusting screws for easy maintenance. These fine,
includes a distal end to be inserted transversely into a musical
handmade instruments are crafted at the Powell workshop in
instrument through an opening therein.The distal end of the body
Massachusetts to produce The Powell Sound. The Signature flute
specifications listed below are unique to Powell:
•
Hand-made in USA.
•
Sterling silver body and mechanism.
•
Beautiful wooden case made in Maine, USA.
includes sockets spaced about its periphery. Bearings are located
in the sockets. A shaft is moveable within the body and includes
reduced diameter distal portions which receive the bearings in
a contracted configuration in order to insert the body into the
musical instrument.The shaft drives the bearings outward from
the distal end of the body in an expanded configuration to form
the tone hole when the body is withdrawn out of the musical
p i tc h
footjoint**
g keys
A-442
A-442
A-442
A-442
A-442
A-442
B footjoint
B footjoint
B footjoint
B footjoint
B footjoint
B footjoint
Inline
Offset
Offset
Inline
Offset
Offset
**C footjoint is available as well.
m e c h a n i ca l
opt i o n s
mod e l #
s i lv e r
Split-e
C# trill key
C# trill key
Split-e, C# trill key
42000
42001
42004
42010
42051
42015
instrument.
U.S. Patent 7,420,109
π www.PowellFlutes.com/Academy
“My Powell flute allows me to make any
colour in my mind....it gives me the
possibility to play what is in my mind
and in my heart....and it follows me
there where I guide it.”
Aldo Baerten
Principal Flute, Royal Flemish Philharmonic
Powell Artists
“As a musician, I try to communicate
“I bought my first Powell flute when I was
15. Ever since then, what I’ve enjoyed
most is that it takes me where I want to
go artistically; anything I can imagine,
I can find a way to do with it.”
through my music; stories, ideas and
fantasies... Flute is my voice and my
Powell flute is the vehicle which enables
me to sing and share my music with
the world.”
Sooyun Kim
Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society
Joshua Smith
Principal Flute, The Cleveland orchestra
“It is a joy to play on my Powell flute.
It gives me the freedom I need to express
myself through music.It is one of the finest
instruments ever.”
Roberto Alvarez
Principal piccolo,
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
“Powell flutes have an extremely warm
but powerful sound. The very stable
tone in the low and middle register is
very important especially for orchestra
players. And, of course, very clean sound
high register. It is very special instrument
which is appropriate for both orchestra
and solo playing.”
Irina Stachinskaya
Principal Flute, Moscow Philharmonic
Orchestra
“Rolex watch, Mercedes CLK, Leica
camera, Powell flute. Just four of
my prized possessions. Guess which
one paid for the other three?
The Powell Flute. Purity of tone,
perfect intonation, mechanical
excellence — the true instrument
of seduction.”
Ia n A n d e r so n
“T he sheer power, presence and
flexibility of the Powell 19.5k
make it an exciting, formidable
and refreshingly unique
instrument to work with.
I am constantly discovering
new qualities in this flute that
give me the opportunity to
explore a free yet highly focused
approach to expression.”
Jethro Tull
Paul Edmund-Davies
International Soloist, former Principal,
London Symphony Orchestra
“Powell flutes provide the timbre and
the color but allow you to be yourself.
Their projection is unparalleled.”
Jean Ferrandis
International Soloist
π
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Custom Piccolos
The piccolo player can depend on Powell instruments to produce a
strong, colorful sound with excellent intonation throughout the scale.
C ustom p i cco l os
are offered in several wood and precious
metal options, and the tone holes are reinforced with phenolic inserts
to provide stability throughout the instruments. These fine piccolos are
hand tuned for exceptional performance.
“
My Powell piccolo is—hands-down—the best piccolo I have ever
played. It has a uniquely dark yet vibrant tone. I was skeptical that
gold keys could make such a difference in the sound, but the instant
I played my piccolo, I fell in love. Its sound makes it easier to blend
with my colleagues than ever before. Thank you for crafting an
instrument that makes it possible for the piccolo to be, indisputably,
considered more than just “auxiliary”!
S tephanie
Mortimore
”
Piccolo, Metropolitan Opera
Orchestra, New York, New York
wood t y p e
m e c h a n i sm
custom i z at i o n s
Grenadilla
Grenadilla
Kingwood
Sterling silver
14k rose gold
14k rose gold
Pitch: A-440, A-442, A-444
Split-e
Profiled embouchure
Wave embouchure
Classic embouchure
π www.PowellFlutes.com/piccolos
Signature Piccolos
®
T he Signatu re p icco lo
features a grenadilla wood
body, sterling silver mechanism and the Powell scale. It is an easy
blowing, even instrument with responsive articulation and a consistent,
sweet sound. Signature piccolos are crafted by the same artisans who
make Custom piccolos in our Maynard, Massachusetts workshop.
Every Signature piccolo is placed in a beautiful cherry wood case with
a velvet lining and a leather case cover.
“
Usually it takes me 7-9 months to choose an instrument,
I bought this one in less than seven seconds!
IMMEDIATELY, I noticed it played evenly and easily
throughout all registers: the articulation was very
responsive, the scale was accurate, and the overall
sound was consistent and sweet.This instrument is
a pleasure!
”
Rosy Sackstein
mod e l #
Wood T y p e
m e c h a n i sm
sp l i t e
h e ad j o i n t
44420
44421
44422
44423
Grenadilla
Grenadilla
Grenadilla
Grenadilla
Sterling silver
Sterling silver
Sterling silver
Sterling silver
no
yes
no
yes
Classic
Classic
Wave
Wave
Flutist, Los Angeles, California
P owe l l S o na r é co n cert flute
models feature
a handmade Powell Signature headjoint and are assembled in the USA.
Teachers and students alike enjoy the precision and balance of the
Powell Scale so that you can focus on the music. The flute body,
which determines the scale, is produced at the Powell workshop in
Massachusetts using Powell’s patented Zinki™ technology.
T h e S o na r é a lto f lute
has re-created the desirable
qualities of the rare alto flutes made by Verne Powell: depth of sound and
ease of playing. The Sonaré alto flute is available with a curved or straight
headjoint handmade at the Powell workshop.
The ground breaking P S - 7 5 0
p i cco l o
P owel l Sonar é®
pioneers a new class of piccolo that builds on a long
tradition of quality at Verne Q. Powell® Flutes. Available in a traditional
design or with Art Deco style square keys, this exciting instrument is
completely made at the Powell workshop in Maynard, Massachusetts.
In addition to being the only stainless steel piccolo mechanism in the
world, the PS-750 features a body made from American hardwoods
stabilized with phenolic resin.
mod e l #
b ody
a r ms
cou n t ry
of o r i g i n
b ody
p l at i n g
key
p l at i n g
PS-501
Nickel silver
Y-arms
USA
Silver
Silver
PS-505
PS-601
PS-705
Nickel silver
Sterling silver
Sterling silver
Pointed
Y-arms
Pointed
USA
USA
USA
Silver
Silver
Silver
Silver
Silver
Silver
mod e l
foot j o i n t *
g keys
sp l i t- e
cups
BGF
B foot
Inline
no
French
BOF
BEF
B foot
B foot
Offset
Offset
no
yes
French
French
*C footjoint is available as well.
π www.PowellFlutes.com/Sonare-Flutes
mod e l
wood co l o r
m e c h a n i sm
PS-750I
Indian Onyx
Stainless Steel
PS-750T
Tuscan Umber
Stainless Steel
Choices
To ne Holes
P i tc h a n d S cal e
Tone holes are the acoustical foundation of
“Pitch” concerns the absolute measurement
the flute. Tone holes can be separate rings
of middle “A.” “Scale” refers to how well the
which are soldered to the flute tube, or they
can be formed by drawing them up from
Drawn and Rolled
flute plays in tune to itself, from octave to
octave and note to note. The Modern Powell
the body tubing. A technological break-
Scale is timbrally well balanced throughout the flute’s range at a
through achieved by Powell allows the use
tuning of 2 Hz. above or below its designated pitch (i.e., a Powell
of high temperature silver braze instead
Soldered
of lead solder for soldering certain tone
flute pitched to A-442 will play in tune throughout its range between
A-440 and A-444).
holes. And Powell’s Zinki technology draws up tone holes using a
™
patented tool (U.S. patent #7,420,109) which produces superior accuracy
Foot Jo i n t
and tone hole quality.
The B foot allows the playing of low B below
middle C and, with the gizmo, facilitates the
Cups & Ar ms
playing of C4. The optional D# roller is used
Powell uses pointed arms to connect most
to slide from the D# lever to and from the C#
key cups to the mechanism tubing (Y-arms
and C levers.
are used for cups that are pressed down by
the fingers). Pointed arms – in comparison
P i n l e ss Me c ha n i sm
to Y-arms – look beautiful and are superior in maintaining the
All Powell Custom, in-line flutes have been
correct relationship between the key cups and the tone holes.
made with a pinless left hand mechanism
for more than 15 years. A pinless right
Open hole, or French style cups, allow production of multiphonics
hand mechanism is standard for all
and provide greater flexibility for the musician to adjust intona-
Handmade Custom and Conservatory models. The elegant design
tion. The primary advantage of a flute with closed hole, or plateau
of Powell’s pinless mechanism minimizes the chances of a key
style, cups is greater ease of playing for someone with small hands.
binding, and provides for silky-smooth key action.
Powell’s Plug-O’s allow the conversion of French cups into plateau
®
style cups. They seamlessly blend with the cups and can be easily
removed when desired.
VQP
®
Shop
T h e p rop e r car e of you r flutes and
p i cco l os requires experienced technicians who understand the
acoustics of your instruments. The Powell repair department is staffed
by professionally trained musicians with extraordinarily high standards,
matched by superb skills. Services include Clean, Oil and Adjusts (COA)
and Overhauls, as well as wooden flute maintenance and other repairs.
We accept all brands of flute or piccolo at the VQP Shop.
Schedule Your Repair π www.PowellFlutes.com/ScheduleARepair
Whether you want to acc e ssor i ze
i n st rum e n t
you r P owel l
for fun or just need something as simple as
a polishing cloth, you’re likely to find it on-line at the VQP Shop.
Just select what you want, put it in the shopping cart, and check out.
Browse Our Catalog π www.PowellFlutes.com/VQPShop
“
When you meet the people at Powell you will
understand why their instruments have character
and soul.
n ora
”
lee garcia
International Soloist
Principal Flute of the Bach Festival Orchestra
Connect
The World of Powell is closer than you think.
We are accessible by phone or online, and we often travel to various
parts of the world with instruments and headjoints. We also love
visitors to our workshop who can take tours and try instruments.
In addition, we have a network of dealers around the world who
are qualified and authorized to handle our instruments.
connect
VERNE Q. POWELL® FLUTES
One Clock Tower Place, Maynard MA 01754 USA
978.461.6111
www.PowellFlutes.com
Facebook: @powellflutes
Twitter: @powell_flutes