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DEHMAL VIENNA HORN
£2,590.00
SOLD
Maker: THOMAS DEHMAL, Vienna, Austria
Address: 22 Grundsteingasse, Wien XVl
Model: VIENNA HORN with F crook
Age: perhaps 100 years? Dehmal's working period was about
1905-1944.
Bell throat profile: medium
Alloy:unlacquered yellow brass, with a nickel silver 'kranz',
(garland), 5 cm in width
Bell flare: fixed
Valve compression: very good
Visual / cosmetic condition: very good, with just a few tiny dings in
hard-to-reach places.
Weight: 1.75 kg with the crook in place, very lightweight.
New 'Champion' case with side pockets and backpack straps.
Further details: A lovely vintage Vienna horn,
built by Thomas Dehmal, (whose uncle Anton Dehmal
currently seems to be better-known). The crook has an older-style
wide mouthpiece receiver, and produces its optimum playing with a
traditional Viennese mouthpiece with a shank that is wider than
that of most German, American and UK mouthpieces.
The horn plays beautifully; notably clean and clear
are the high F, F#, G, G# and A.
The 'almost magical' factor in the sound of a very good Vienna horn is here in abundance. There is an extra dimension of richness and 'complexity' to the sound, plus a silkier legato, compared to the F side of a German or German-style double horn, as well as an element of 'authenticity' in performing much of the classical repertoire.
The horn has been lovingly maintained, to the extent that it feels like it has retained much potential useful life. Two expertly made patches are: 1) on the inner bell flare, but not affecting the hand position, and 2) on the lower bend of the 3rd valve, where water collects. Rather than being disadvantageous, these serve to strengthen the brass at two vulnerable places.
This very horn was used by Paxman as a model
when the Company made several Vienna horns in the
mid-1970s: primarily a traditional model with an
identically profiled medium-throated flare as this one,
plus another, with a wider throat, based on Richard Merewether's
'bass' horn, by Anton Cizek, another noted Viennese maker who
was active during the same era as Dehmal.
An enthusiastic non-professional player acquired, from Paxman,
the Dehmal horn for his collection in about 1976; it remained in the
collection for nearly 50 years, being played only occasionally,
therefore not subjected to the daily wear-and-tear of full-time
professional use.
The photos can be viewed in greater detail
by opening and saving them.
Halstead Music Ltd acts as an agent only,
accepting no responsibility as a principal.
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd.