On one of my Beukers copies
For Wijne, Kirst and Tassi comments also read jed wentz's page
reaction of a flute player from
Washington
.......is currently playing your Beukers model flute. Here is the website where you can hear a clip of her playing: ........ (scroll down to tracks 8 and 9 to hear her playing the Hebden Sonata.) We all just love the way she sounds on your flute, so much so, that the remaining members of the ensemble are considering saving our pennies up to purchase Polak's of our own! Thank you for your work and dedication to the creation and recreation of early flutes.
England
...Thanks ever so much for making such lovely instruments...
London
I played the new flute in rehearsals yesterday, as did .... - we were both very impressed (and I am very happy!). It is a very lively flute - very willing to resonate. I shall re-read the page on your website about 'volume' when I have a chance - I am sure you are onto something there. This isn't exactly a 'loud' flute, but it really did carry extremely well and sound good in the acoustic yesterday. Very exciting! I look forward to its first concert in a couple of weeks, when it will be my turn to take the solos...
Mexico (Mexico's best, special 430 Kirst)
The Kirst arrived safely today. I have to tell you I'm totally impressed
with it, it's really fantastic!!!!. I loved the quality of sound, it's so
rich and resonant; the tunning seems very good, specially for the
problematic notes in Eb-Ab (F is great, Bb seems very resonant). And it
speaks very easily both on the low & high register. Fantastic.
I want to thank you so much for making it for me with such little time.
Italy somewhere
sorry of the delay in writing you but I was very busy and had so little time...
the Naust flute I've buyed in Cernusco is simply wonderful
the best flute I've ever played!
Thanks!
I hope I'll use it in some recordings in order to write down your name
you're really a great flute maker!
Florida US
My name is ...., and I tried and fell in love with your flutes at the 2007 NFA Convention in Albuquerque. Currently, I live in ... and am a visiting professor teaching flute at .., but last year, I taught with .. at Florida State University. She was given some money to buy two Baroque flutes, and when she asked me which I liked best (I was there to teach Baroque flute and recorder), I naturally steered her in your direction.
Beijing
The flute arrived safely this morning.
I was very impressed with the packing, i.e., virtually indestructable. Thank you for an absolutely wonderful Beukers!
Missoula, US
I continue to play and love both my Wijne and Kirst flutes. Thank you again for making this possible!
Thanks for your reply and update on your flutes! I love my Wijne the way it is, but I have seen that not everyone likes it. It is certainly my favorite. We'll keep in touch. It is a big decision.
Brazil
My name is ... and I'm from .., Brazil.
I got to know your traverso through .. who went to school at Indiana University a few years ago and was a student of .. and also from ..who is also from .. and just bought one of your flutes.
I'm very interested about getting a 415 Beukers in black wood just like their flutes and I would like to know how much it would be, how long it would take, the procedures for sending you the money and how would you send it to Brazil.
US
Hi Simon.....I have the Tassi now. I finally ventured out to the FedEx facility at the airport and picked it up myself. FedEx had tried three times to deliver it by truck but gave up each time. So I took the train out there and walked two miles through the snow to get there. I give you these details to stress that the trip was well worth the effort...the flute is wonderful and everything I had hoped! It has the near-perfect intonation that your instruments seem to have, a lovely tone, and a high register that responds easily. And best of all....I now actually enjoy playing in the flat keys, something I never thought possible! It is a great complement to my Kirst
Australia a week later
Sorry for the delay, I meant to email you much earlier this week, but the past two weeks have been incredibly busy.
Thank you for such a beautiful instrument, we are getting along rather well :) It makes such a difference to have an instrument that responds so well, my playing has improved enormously - because it is so responsive it exposes any areas where your technique may be lacking, but allows you to correct the problem quite easily, and it is so expressive! I am really looking forward to hear the sound develop, the sound is quite already very beautiful, and all my teachers have commented on how beautiful it is!
Mexico
I just wanted to let yo know that the flute arrived very well, thank you so
much!.
I liked it very very much, it sounds great; beautiful round sound, wonderful
low register.
Australia
The flute arrived today! It is such a beautiful instrument! I fell in love with the very first note I played, and every note after the first was even better. It has a very pure sound and so many colours! The lower register is incredibly rich and luscious, and the upper register is so clear. The whole instrument is also very responsive, and articulates so well. There is no need to 'battle' with the instrument, you can spend your energy just playing music. It was very difficult to stop playing after only 15 minutes, this will require some discipline I think.
I am really looking forward to seeing how it improves with playing in. Knowing how good it is now, to think that it will improve with playing is astonishing!
Thank you so much for such a beautiful instrument! I will let you know how we get on over the next week or so :)
Colorado
The Tassi is wonderful--I just haven't had much time to play on it since I've been recording with the Buekers the past couple weeks... I'm really looking forward to playing on it for a concert in November in Denver!
US
The flute arrived safely this morning.
I was very impressed with the packing, i.e., virtually indestructable.
I played the flute for a few minutes, and the tone is phenominal. It's also much louder than I expected.
Germany
Sehr geehrter Herr Simon Polak,
erst gestern, wegen Ferienzeit, bin ich mit meinem Lehrer zum Zusammenspiel mit Ihrer wunderschönen Kirsttraverso gekommen. Auch er spielt eine Kirsttraverso und die Telemannduette für zwei Traversi hörten sich sehr schön an.
Ich freue mich noch jeden Tag, wenn ich Ihre Flöte in die Hand nehmen kann und erfreue mich an ihren wunderschönen Klang. Vielen, vielen Dank, dass Sie meine Flöte so schnell angefertigt und versendet haben. Ich habe sie über Musikhaus Kröger/ Frau Heck erstanden.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen und nochmals mit meinen allerherzlichsten Dank Ihr
US
You are very welcome! I love my flute! I'll drop by your booth at the convention to say hello and to try more flutes!
US
I love my flute. What more can I say. I wanted to get some info on getting an A430 joint for it.
Spain
More I play more I love your marvelous flute. It's the best 440 traverso I know. Congratulations and thank you very much!
Boston
I hope you are doing well. I have some exciting news-
I recently took the Handel and Haydn substitute
audition and was accepted! The judges liked my tone
very much and asked who made my flute, what kind, etc.
I also had very successful audition with more
positive feedback for Boston Baroque, but I haven't
heard the results. I DO like my tone on the Beukers,
it's been improving since I've been back in the US and
I feel more than ever like my flute is an ideal
extension of my voice and what I imagine in my ear.
Thank you so much!
Spain
I have listened with great pleasure to the sound of one of your Kirst flutes. Diana Baroni was playing it (440 joint) at a workshop for flutists in Madrid, Spain, last 1st of may.
The sounds she produced on your flute were so nice, rich, warm and also very "booming", as much as the beauty of the instrument itself (and of course of Diana herself).
I noticed the fine turning of the footjoint for the key mounting, and I asked Diana what type of instrument she was playing on. She told me about you and the Kirst copy that she
played in her last tour in South America.
That marvelous sound on the Kirst was enough to love the period flutes and I enjoyed very much because the intonation of the flute matched near perfectly with the Boehm flutes of the assistants to the workshop. I remember an interview with Konrad Hünteler, 17 years ago, when he spoke about his first "period" flute, that was an original Kirst. He described the discovery of that fine and exquisite sound that let him to choose his particular "period" safari.
I am only an amateur flutist but I appreciate very much the work of the finest woodwind luthiers like you.
California
Just a quick note to say I am enjoying the Kirst. I originally bought the flute for two reasons: One was for playing Mozart, the other was because I really dislike modern flutes and needed something to play at A440. You probably already know how well the Kirst plays Mozart so I will not go into that. I would like to tell you a little bit about my other uses. I have played lots of duets, baroque and classical, with a friend of mine who plays the modern metal flute. For starters, the volume between the flutes differs only with a couple of notes, and you probably know which notes they are, low f, G#, b flat. Other than that the Kirst can be heard right along with the metal beast. Another very nice thing is the constant ringing I hear from being in tune, that nice little buzz you get in your ears telling you your right in tune. I get that a lot with the Kirst, so the tuning is really good. The other thing that I have enjoyed immensely is playing English Country and even Irish music. I am still out in California and have been playing sit-ins at Pubs and the Kirst really works well with the fiddles and mandolins. So all in all I am finding some interesting uses for the Instrument. Last night I was playing for English Country dancing and got a lot of complements from people on how much they liked the sound of the flute. It’s surprising how many people have never seen the old one key flute. Having a great high register is really nice to because lots of times I will ready fiddle tunes up an octave for volume and the high notes pop out so easy.
US(!)
I am certainly enjoying my flute and will write today in English to ask some technical questions.
Ja "mijn kirst' is heel good en gelukkig aangekomen. Wij werden onmiddelijk goede vrienden.
US
just wanted to let you know that I received the Beukers today. It is absolutely beautiful!! I am extremely excited to learn to play on it, and I can already tell it is going to be a fantastic flute.
US
I LOVE my flute. It was a shock, the best shock I've ever
had, actually. If this email goes through, I'll take the
time to tell you more.
France
I hope that your summer was pleasant and productive.
Concerning your instrument, we are getting along pretty well; I performed several times in july and the sound is developing beautifully.
So, I'm really happy with the decision and your suggestion about the choice. Thank's a lot!
US
My new flute is wonderful! I'm enjoying playing it very much.
US
I got the flute today. It looks great, and plays just beautifully. I thought it was playing well before, but now it's so much better.
Wisconsin
My name is ...... I was working for .. booth right across from your booth and did not know how to play Baroque flute - AND, I eventually bought your instrument!
I surely enjoying playing my baroque flute - I found that playing Baroque flute (for now) soothing and make me calm. I really like this instrument.
Canada
The more I play my, your, Tassi, the more I enjoy it. In some way it obliged me to renew my way of playing and it improved my playing on the Weemaels and the Soubeyrand, until..... BANG
...the lower part felt and the key is broken (not totally but it does not work properly and the hole does not close completely), and the sound (mainly the lower and middle Ds) is a shame compared to what it was. The key itself and the spring were badly bent. The wood is OK. I tried to fix the key with a pair of pliers and much care; it improved but... I closed the key with a rubber band and the flute recovered its wonderful sound so I think that it is the key which is broken and not the flute itself. OUF,,, Because of the high cost of the mail service, I suggest that you send me a new key that I could install myself or ask a friend of mine who is a professionnal recorder maker (Jean-Luc Boudreau, the one who gave me your name). There is another professionnal flute repairer in Montreal named Pascal Veraquin) , but I prefer to make arrangements with you, if possible.
Hi Simon. Good to have my friend back.
It (she?) came in Montreal on wednesday, but at our former address.
I received it on friday and tried as soon as.
Everything is perfect. Many thanks.
Texas
The Kirst and I are getting along splendidly,...
Spain
More I play more I love your marvelous flute. It's the best 440 traverso I know. Congratulations and thank you very much!
Best wishes
US
Hi Simon.....the flute arrived yesterday, safe and sound in its bomb-proof container! I gave it its first oiling and 15 minute playing session, and it is wonderful! The sound and response are just what I had hoped. And you're correct....I played some Mozart on it and it's just where it belongs.
Italy
I've tried the Kirst flute very carefully and already used in a concert.
It's really a great flute (both diapason...)
Spain
Hi, Mr. Polak.
I have listened with great pleasure to the sound of one of your Kirst flutes. Diana Baroni was playing it (440 joint) at a workshop for flutists in Madrid, Spain, last 1st of may.
The sounds she produced on your flute were so nice, rich, warm and also very "booming", as much as the beauty of the instrument itself (and of course of Diana herself).
I noticed the fine turning of the footjoint for the key mounting, and I asked Diana what type of instrument she was playing on. She told me about you and the Kirst copy that she
played in her last tour in South America.
That marvelous sound on the Kirst was enough to love the period flutes and I enjoyed very much because the intonation of the flute matched near perfectly with the Boehm flutes of the assistants to the workshop. I remember an interview with Konrad Hünteler, 17 years ago, when he spoke about his first "period" flute, that was an original Kirst. He described the discovery of that fine and exquisite sound that let him to choose his particular "period" safari.
I am only an amateur flutist but I appreciate very much the work of the finest woodwind luthiers like you.
US somewhere
just wanted to let you know that I received the Beukers today. It is absolutely beautiful!! I am extremely excited to learn to play on it, and I can already tell it is going to be a fantastic flute. Thanks for your work and the beautiful flute!
Ook Franrijk
De Beukers is donderdagavond 3 april behouden aangekomen, hoe kan het ook anders in die bomb-proof verpakking! Ik zal hem goed bewaren, die komt zeker nog van pas. De eerste kennismaking heeft inmiddels plaats gevonden; het timbre, voor een onbespeelde fluit, is veelbelovend en ik ben benieuwd hoe het zich in de komende weken en maanden gaat ontwikkelen. Opmerkelijk is de zuiverheid en de sterkte van de fa' die bijna zonder correctie te produceren is. Op mijn Rottenburg kan ik die toon alleen krijgen met een forse correctie naar beneden en vermindering van blaaskracht met alle gevolgen van dien. De verse fles amandelolie is inmiddels aangebroken voor de eerste behandelingen.
France Paris (Beukers)
P.S: Je m'éclate avec votre traverso, il est génial, ça me change la vie. MERCI!!!!!! (this cannot be translated in English, so guess)
US somewhere (Tassi 415)
Anyway, at this point, the flute is doing marvelous! I love its tone and colors!
the flute “sings.”
Japan
Today, I have received the Beukers. It looks nice! And it seems to be
easier to control than I have imagined. If any question, I will contact
you later. I would like to enjoy baroque works from now on! Thanks for
your good work.
Italy
do you remember me?
I've bought a wonderful Beukers flute last year.
Now I want to buy a Kirst flute (with extra joint A = 430 Hz)
Italy
Happy to say that your flute is going very well.
Swainsboro USA
I LOVE my flute. It was a shock, the best shock I've ever
had, actually (me: it was a birthday surprise). If this email goes through, I'll take the
time to tell you more
Hilversum
Verder ben ik nog steeds heel erg blij met mijn fluit. Zo langzamerhand
begint hij ingespeeld te raken (of ik), en gaat nog steeds mooier
klinken !
Kate vond dat hij heel goed bij mij paste.
England
I have already started playing in the Beukers I bought and am extremely pleased with the flute. Each time I take it up for this week’s 20 minutes x 2, I get more familiar with it and am already enjoying the way it responds.
Oxford
Dear Simon
I have just had my first lesson using the new (Beukers, stained boxwood) flute I bought at the Early Music Festival in London. The tone is lovely already, even though I am still playing it in very slowly.
My teachers says it is a beautiful instrument and should get to sound even better when fully played in. I will have to come back to the exhibition next year and buy another flute from you at A440 to play Mozart.
With thanks and best wishes
US
Good, I'm glad ...... I also wanted to let you know I am enjoying the flute very much!
US
I got the flute today. It looks great, and plays just beautifully.
Japan
The Wijne is already my good friend!
Contrary to my, or our, expectations, it is easier to play than my first flute.
Oxford
I played in Mass in b on Saturday at St Giles Cripplegate in the Barbican. The ebony Beukers sang beautifully - particularly gorgeous in the Domine Deus.
Toulouse
Concerning your instrument, we are getting along pretty well; I performed several times in july and the sound is developing beautifully.
So, I'm really happy with the decision and your suggestion about the choice. Thank's a lot!
Madison Wisconsin
Last week, I took my first Baroque flute lesson with ...... at University of Wisconsin Madison. I played Handel's h moll Sonata! I love it so much!
Somewhere in the north of Holland
Heb de fluit in goede orde ontvangen. Ziet er prachtig uit, en eerste indruk: mooie lieflijke klank en zeer zuiver!
Hiversum
Mijn nieuwe fluit ben ik nog
steeds met heel veel plezier aan het inspelen ; hij klinkt prachtig !
outside Boston somehwere
Kansas city
Hi Simon - I just wanted to let
you know that I had my first lesson last week. My teacher thought my new flute
was wonderful...especially how in tune it is. So I wanted to pass that
compliment along. I'm really enjoying playing it.
Japan
By the way Tassi is very good for me.
Den Hague Student (Spain)
Montreal
A little frustrating to stop after 15 minutes... But that is life; patience, patience... The Tassi is a very different instrument compared to my .... or my .... It is a new world to discover; which is what I wanted and I discover a new world of sounds, reflexes, habits and marvels. Thank you very much.
Den Hague student(US)
Here's the news: everybody loves it (the Beukers, that is). My teacher thought it was just beautiful. She didn't say very much, just played it in her meditative way and didn't seem to want to stop. And it made all the difference in my lesson-- I was able to concentrate on musical rather than technical issues. It's completely different from my Rottenburgh, but it already feels like I've had it forever. I chose the flute for its pure, dark sound, but it can also be bright as well, and always so colorful!
US
I've been playing one of your Beukers flutes with great pleasure for almost 4 years and now I would like to order the Kirst model. I moved from Boston this year and find myself among some musicians interested in playing the late 18th century repertoire, so I naturally thought of your excellent Kirst, which I enjoyed trying at the last BEMF.
By the way, everyone I play with always comments on what a beautiful tone the Beukers has.
Japan
I use several traverso ,but your Beukers is the most frequently used traverso.
The Netherlands,(Kirst)
Sweden
Merry Christmas... Thank you for an absolutely wonderful Beukers!
Rotterdam
England
The flute is brilliant and I love playing it
Italy
Happy to say that your flute is going very well.
US
Greetings. Hope this finds you
well. I am getting along nicely with my Tassi. Brought it with me when I
attended the Baroque workshop this summer at Longy and one of the other students
fell in love with it.
Indiana,
..... is thrilled with her flute!! I'll see it on Friday. Hope all is well with you
Finland, Haka
I have been playing my flute almost daily since I got it. Its very interesting but difficult flute. (my comment: very close to the original, no attempts to make it easier)
US somewhere
....
.I am very much enjoying it. I am concentrating on starting out slowly and carefully, and hope to have a lesson sometime soon. The sound of the instrument is so pure, so beautiful. ....I feel it a real privilege to be playing on an instrument made by you. Thank you for bringing this joy into my life.Finland
Yes, I have the flute! It's very nice! We have started to get known each other ;)
Japan
received the flute keeping perfect condition yesterday. At the same time,my daughter .............I wanted to play the new flute, while, I had to converse with them. The sound of the flute is very beautiful and voicing is relatively easy. It was difficult to stop playing within 10 or 15minutes. I think if people can get Beukers easily, traverso will be more common. Thank you very much for your excellent workmanship
Japan
Beukers Flute arrival was
carried out today. It is deeply moved with the wonderful instrument.
Thank you so much and I want to use the Beukers flute importantly.
US Montana
Thank you for the beautiful Beukers flute you sent to ..... It is a delight to play! She is enjoying her new friend so much! I could tell right away it was one of your flutes - the tuning is recognizably yours, as of course is the response. Wijne, Kirst, Beukers - each one has a distinctive character and personality, but the tuning is similar enough that the player can easily switch from one instrument to the next without needing serious "brain" adjustments. That characteristic is proving especially nice for me for the next two weeks. I have 5 concerts to play over a period of 8 days. Three of them are at A-415 with the Wijne and the other two are in an orchestra of moderninstruments at A-440 where I'll be playing the Kirst. Thanks again for my lovely instruments as well as taking such good care of my friend, .....
US,Montana
(first reaction) My first 15 minutes--wow. I'm going to have to use a timer. Already I can tell that it's easier to play than the flute I've been playing: the high notes, what a difference. c natural is gorgeous, and f natural is easy; all the notes more "there." It's quite different from the flute I've been playing, so I think that it will take me a little time to get used to. In just 15 minutes I felt like I was growing into it. .... says that it will change as I play it--how exciting. I'm going to go swim so that I can settle down a little.
(second reaction) It's just wonderful. As I learn to play it and as it changes from being played, well, I like it more and more. It's an experience to be able to grow into a fine hand made thing. Astonishing that something can give so much pleasure. ........... and the more I play it the richer the tone I'm able to get. I have a long way to go to get a truely rich tone. I'll have a great time along the way. The last time I played with Katherine she played the Wjine (probably I haven't spelled this right); she sounded so beautiful.
Japan
....... Beukers has powerful low notes, I feel , e.g. D,E,F,Fis. Second F and Fis are very good as you say. As a whole, Beukers is very easy to play, with beautiful sound in tune. I am now practicing Quantz Caprices and Hotteterre Preludes. In the Prelude in D with B.c., cis-dis-f-fis-gis-a-h-cis passage comes out easily with Beukers. I am so satisfied with my new Beukers. I say "thank you" again with all my heart.
Japan
I ordered your Tassi flute last year ,and now I am enjoying to play it. I have liked it very much, I came to be able to play variable articulations with it. Thank you very much. Now, this time, I want to have your Beukers flute. I want a Beukers flute to be made in blackwood, pitch 415Hz, with 408Hz exchange joint.
some of my christmas wishes: Tanks for your wonderful flutes, have a great year and see you soon+cd, Thanks for another great year of flute playing. Back to Beuker and Christmas Bach, great!
England
The flute is playing beautifully already - or perhaps what I mean is that *I'm* adjusting to its particular combination of resistance and flexibility. It is fantastically responsive to minute changes in articulation, partly due to the fact that there's a little 'edge' to the sound, and partly because it has 'good gear changes' - you can adjust the airspeed mid-articulation and the sound doesn't choke. And of course the tuning is a breeze (but it's making me lazy on my other flutes). I'm glad you persuaded me to take the ebony flute - I was a confirmed boxwood-only man beforehand, but I've learned something
Continuing story from Australia (see the earlier ones)
Well, I've now been using the Tassi in rehearsals
for ...(Rameau opera) for a week. It is great! I am now very comfortable with
the stretch, which I hardly notice (except when my fingers are cold! ), and the
sound is really amazing. We have quite a big band, but the Tassi competes
easily. In fact, it seems almost obvious that it is an orchestral instrument.
That's not to say that it isn't also a chamber instrument, but the voicing is
just so perfect for an orchestral situation. It plays very big when you need it,
quite low resistance on some notes compared to the other flutes I have of yours,
which really does get the sound out easily. The tuning is also very comfortable,
no effort on strong notes, meaning they are easy to play soft without strain,
and yet keep their tuning when projected, too. Only exception is the E''', which
has to be nursed. Also, for me, the A#'' and Bb'' are reversed (as is indicated on the fingering page on my
website), but this can have its
compensations. When we first started rehearsals, the pitch started to sink
(harpsichord), so I just switched corps! Wonderful! However, the double reeds
needed to be sharper, so the pitch went up and I switched back - a great
example, though, of how practical the corps de rechange are. We are now playing
at 395, and the shortest corps works just fine as there is a good deal of
flexibility built into this flute. It was also fine at 392, but if I was playing
continuously I would probably choose the middle one. In this opera, there is
quite a lot to do on piccolo, so nothing gets continuous use. This was the acid
test, so to speak, of this flute, and it has proven itself without question -
another truly great Simon Polak instrument.
I'll send more impressions as I go.
Great Britain
The flute is playing beautifully already - or perhaps what I mean is that *I'm* adjusting to its particular combination of resistance and flexibility. It is fantastically responsive to minute changes in articulation, partly due to the fact that there's a little 'edge' to the sound, and partly because it has 'good gear changes' - you can adjust the airspeed mid-articulation and the sound doesn't choke. And of course the tuning is a breeze (but it's making me lazy on my other flutes). I'm glad you persuaded me to take the ebony flute - I was a confirmed boxwood-only man beforehand, but I've learned something new.Anyway, apart from only being able to play it for twenty minutes a time, I'm very happy.
Best wishes and many thanks for a lovely flut
Friesland
De eerste indruk is erg
veelbelovend: prachtige klank en heel zuiver, speelt heel makkelijk, als “vanzelf””.
En dat al na twee keer 15 minuten! Mooi hout ook en fraai afgewerkt. Ben er tot
nu toe heel gelukkig mee, de fluit voldoet geheel aan mijn verwachtingen.
Ik houd je op de hoogte van de ontwikkelingen in onze muzikale “relatie”.
