(London, 1663-1730) Ebony original in the Oldham collection, London.
a=405.
The Instrument
Bressan was born Pierre Jaillard in Bourg-en-Bresse, France,
and apprenticed to a turner there, but by 1688 he had arrived in London
and set up as a maker, using Bressan as his trade name. He also
worked as an oboist, attending William III's visit to Holland, and made
recorders and oboes as well as transverse flutes. Bressan's working dates
in London are c1688-1730. The flute we copy was probably made shortly
after 1700. The original embouchure has been altered, so we use that of
another three-joint Bressan, in the Miller Collection, Washington DC.
The Music
Italian music was all the rage in London during Bressan's
lifetime. Handel's Italian-style operas and the German and Italian flute
solos published by Walsh work well on this instrument.
