Flute made by Rudall, Rose & Carte & Co
Object No. 2007/84/1
This flute is one of several in the Powerhouse Museum's collection that belonged to and were played by one of Australia's greatest flautists, Neville Amadio. Internationally renowned as a soloist and chamber musician, Amadio held the position of Principal Flute in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for over forty years from its establishment in the early 1930s until his retirement from the position in 1978. Born in Sydney in 1913 Neville Amadio began learning the flute at the age of eight initially getting lessons from one of his uncles, Adrian, the younger brother of flautist John Amadio. After further lessons at the NSW Conservatorium of Music with Albert Arlom he began his professional career in 1927 at age 15 playing in an ensemble formed by Sydney radio station 2FC. This group was enlarged to become the Australian Broadcasting Commission Studio Orchestra in 1932 and gradually grew further giving annual concert seasons in 1936 before officially becoming the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 1946. Amadio was appointed principal flute in 1934. During this period Amadio played under several conductors including Sir Hamilton Harty, Antal Dorati, Sir Thomas Beacham, Eugene Ormandy, Eugene Goossens and Willem van Otterloo amongst others. Neville Amadio was also one of the founders of Musica Viva which has brought professional music to schools all over Australia for many years. He was a co-founder of the New Sydney Woodwind Quartet and also as an active teacher was professor of flute at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music. He was awarded an MBE in 1969 and an AM in 1981 for his services to music. The Powerhouse Museum's flute collection is the most significant and comprehensive in a public collection in Australia. It not only documents the development of the flute especially in England from the late 18th century but also includes instruments by many of Australia's finest flautists including John Amadio, Leslie Barklamb and David Cubbin. The collection also includes flutes by several Australian makers such as Jordan Wainwright and Clewin Harcourt. References: Linda Vogt AM; Flute Players of Note in Australia (Linda Vogt, NSW, 2004). Michael Lea Curator, music & musical instruments July 2007.
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Summary
Object Statement
Flute, 1851 system, in case, silver / timber / velvet, made by Rudall Rose & Carte & Co, London, England, 1862-1900
Physical Description
The 1851 system flute can be divided into three main sections, each made from silver with silver keys, and consists of the head joint, the middle joint and the foot joint. The head joint is decorated with a floral motif around the lip plate and the middle joint features an engraved inscription on the barrel, "COUNCIL & PRIZE MEDALS / 1851 AND 1862 / Rudall Rose Carte & Co / Patentees / 20 Charing Cross / London / Boehm's Parabola / Carte's Mechanism". The flute is housed, fully assembled, in a long timber case, covered with a black textured leather. It has a hinged lid, with two catches at the front, one is broken. The interior is lined with with a dark purple velvet.
PRODUCTION
Notes
The 1851 system was created by Richard Carte (b.1808 d.1891) who was a successful English flautist and teacher. Carte was one of the first to take up the Boehm system in England. However, in 1850, he became a partner at the firm Rudall and Rose, and in the same year patented his combination of the Boehm system with the old fingering which became known as the 1851 system. The mark of this example refers to Boehm's parabola which refers to the shape of the flute bore, as opposed to the previous conical bore instruments. Carte's Mechanism, refers to the new keywork he designed. The open hole note was a D instead of C#. The forked fingering required for F on the Boehm system, which had caused difficulties for some players, was reverted to the simple system fingering (i.e. retaining both the long and short F keys). Another advantage nominated by Carte in preference to the Boehm system, was the large reduction in cross fingerings in the third register. At the 1851 London Exhibition, Carte was awarded a medal for this system. (Danielle Eden; Catalogue Of Flutes And Piccolos At The Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences/Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Australia, (November, 1996)
HISTORY
Notes
One of the instruments owned by Neville Amadio. It is unknown where and when he acquired this instrument or if he used it in performances.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs Hilda Maude Amadio, 2007
Acquisition Date
18 July 2007
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