William S. Haynes
Serial # 23950; Boston; 1954; 14k body & mechanism;
sl
635mm; 464g; .0105"h .010"b
What can I say? This beautiful instrument was made for Frederick
Wilkins (1907-1968). Wilkins studied under Georges Barrère
at Julliard and became principle flutist in the Radio City Music Hall
symphony under Erno Rapee. Following naval service in the Pacific
theatre during WW2, he became principle flutist with the Voice of
Firestone Orchestra under Howard Barlow, which had a national following
on both radio and television. Perhaps the most active free lance
flutist in New York, he also performed with the New York City Opera and
the New York City Ballet and often played for RCA Records in addition
to teaching at the Manhattan School of Music and the Chautauqua
Institute.
An inquisitive man who worked on his own flutes,
Fred Wilkins even enlisted the assistance of a dentist named Dr. Levy
to make molds of instruments to try to determine why the Haynes and
Powell flutes were so special as compared to other flutes. Donald
Artley pursued him for his advice on how to improve the Artley flute
and would not quit until Wilkins reluctantly agreed to meet with
him. Out of this strained beginning came a collaboration from
which emerged Artley's flagship flute, the "Wilkins Model" -- a godsend
to aspiring flutists who could neither afford nor wait years to
acquire a handmade Boston flute. (My heartfelt thanks to Fred and
Paul Preuss for sharing recollections about their fascinating "Uncle
Fred" with me and adding even more to the personality of
this instrument!)
This particular Haynes flute later passed on to
Trudy
Kane of the New York Metropolitan, who had John Fuggetta make a new
(which
of course does NOT equate to "modern") headjoint for it in 1989.
She commented, "I've always played Haynes flutes because their quality
is
unsurpassed. My gold Haynes is without a doubt the best flute I've ever
played."
After receiving a gold Haynes
during his first U.S. tour in 1958, the late Jean Pierre Rampal played
them exclusively -- even relegating his legendary gold 1869 Louis Lot
to
the security of a safe in France.
This particular flute left
the Haynes shop three months to the day after I was born, and I only
wish
the years had been so kind to me. Thanks to careful maintenance
it
is as beautiful in appearance, as precise in action, and as rich in
timbre
as the day it was made. You can push the bottom notes until pants
legs start flapping in the front row.
I'll let a few images speak
for themselves, low resolution though they may be.
GoferJoe's Flutes Personal Page GoferJoe's
Arts Burrow
What can I say? This beautiful instrument was made for Frederick
Wilkins (1907-1968). Wilkins studied under Georges Barrère
at Julliard and became principle flutist in the Radio City Music Hall
symphony under Erno Rapee. Following naval service in the Pacific
theatre during WW2, he became principle flutist with the Voice of
Firestone Orchestra under Howard Barlow, which had a national following
on both radio and television. Perhaps the most active free lance
flutist in New York, he also performed with the New York City Opera and
the New York City Ballet and often played for RCA Records in addition
to teaching at the Manhattan School of Music and the Chautauqua
Institute.
