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FRITZ PETZOLD 5-valve compensator
£1,990.00
This lovely horn, made in 1951, is a hand-made 'Migma'
gold-brass, 5 valve double compensator in F/Bb/A+ by
FRITZ PETZOLD (Markneukirchen, Germany).
The instrument was originally bought brand new in 1951 by Jack
Deas, who was for many years a busy freelance player in
Scotland.
He chose it for its tone quality, reminding him of the 'real
French Horn' as used by both Aubrey and Dennis Brain.
The horn's high register has a particularly secure feeling on
Bb, B and C, and the instrument's general tonal character is
very compact and focussed.
An interesting feature of the 5th valve ( A or A+) is that there is no need for 'stopping sleeves', since the 'A' tuning slide can instantly be lengthened precisely to the appropriate position for in-tune hand-stopping.
The valves were nickel plated and handlapped 10 years ago by Roy Cox (leading European expert brass instrument repairer), and the rotors have excellent compression.
The detachable bell flare's threads are slightly fragile, so its current case is a fixed-bell 'Gator', an excellent fit, with a shoulder strap. In this instance, the 'fit' is important; the large size of the horn's body 'hoop' or circle (35 x 36 cm) is based on the established design of two of Fritz Petzold's better-known near-contemporaries who emigrated from their native Germany to the USA: Richard Wunderlich (1860-1934) and Carl Geyer (1880-1973).
Overall, the condition of this 74 years old horn is remarkable, for its age, having been carefully maintained by its present owner, very recently retired from playing. It must also be mentioned that there is a very slight bend in the leadpipe, having no effect on the instrument's playing.
Although a professional-quality instrument, its sub-£2K price
accounts for its parallel listing in the 'Intermediate' category.
The Petzold horn has been played in the former Scottish National Orchestra (now RSNO) the BBC Scottish Symphony, the former BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra (now sadly defunct), Scottish Opera Orchestra, and the Edinburgh 'Reid Orchestra' along with many other ensembles.
Although this is a professional-quality instrument, its sub-
£2K price qualifies it for a parallel listing in
the 'Intermediate' category.
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Information about Fritz Petzold, from the renowned German
horn soloist and teacher, Peter Damm:
''The name of the instrument maker Petzold was new to me; I had not heard it before. This is because I got to know Markneukirchen and its horn makers at a much later time.
I met Herbert Fritz Knopf and his son Johannes only once; his firm is continued today by Christian Knopf. I received my first Markneukirchen horn, from Master Walter Mönnig, around 1966.
The brass instrument maker Fritz Petzold was born on the 19th September 1879 in Markneukirchen/Vogtland. The Petzold family lived in a house at Oberer Berg Nr. 10.
His grandfather Friedrich August Petzold (1823 - 1904) earned the family’s living by farming and at the same time, built brass instruments!
This tradition was continued by his grandson Fritz.
Because times after 1945 were very difficult, Fritz Petzold became a member of 'MIGMA' on the 26th February 1947, to which he belonged until his death on the 25th June 1957.
MIGMA, founded in 1943, is short for “MIGMA eG Musikinstrumenten Handwerker-Genossenschaft”. It is a union of master artisans who preserve and continue the traditions of German instrument making. The oldest marketing and distribution corporation, (it) still exists in Markneukirchen.
Master Manfred Mönnig (son of Walter Mönnig) told me, Fritz Petzold built one double horn per month. He gained a considerable reputation as a brass instrument maker; the quality of his instruments was held equal to those of instruments by the well-known firms, K. Dressel and Herbert Fritz Knopf.”
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Halstead Music acts as an agent only,
accepting no responsibility as a principal
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd.