Guntram Wolf
Encyclopedia
Guntram Wolf is a maker of modern and historical woodwind instrument
s in Kronach
, Germany
.
and is one of the better known makers of Wiener (Viennese) oboes
. He also makes a considerable number of historical instrument replicas of bassoon
s, oboe
s and clarinet
s, as well as child-sized models of the same instruments.
, called the "Contraforte
". The Contraforte has been received well in most countries but has a very small following in the United States
, with less than a half dozen players of the instrument.
More recently he has developed a redesigned bass oboe
, called the "lupophon
".
Woodwind instrument
A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument which produces sound when the player blows air against a sharp edge or through a reed, causing the air within its resonator to vibrate...
s in Kronach
Kronach
Kronach is a town in Oberfranken, Bavaria, Germany, located in the Frankenwald area. It is the capital of the district Kronach.Kronach is the birthtown of Lucas Cranach the Elder and Maximilian von Welsch, as well as Johann Kaspar Zeuss and Josef Stangl....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
His productions
He specializes in the modern Heckel (German) system bassoonBassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
and is one of the better known makers of Wiener (Viennese) oboes
Wiener Oboe
In Vienna , a type of modern oboe has been preserved to the present day that retains the essential bore and tonal characteristics of the historical oboe. The Akademiemodel Wiener oboe, first developed in the 1880s by Josef Hajek, is the only modern oboe to withstand the monopoly of the...
. He also makes a considerable number of historical instrument replicas of bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
s, oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
s and clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
s, as well as child-sized models of the same instruments.
Innovations
Guntram Wolf has also developed a redesign of the contrabassoonContrabassoon
The contrabassoon, also known as the double bassoon or double-bassoon, is a larger version of the bassoon, sounding an octave lower...
, called the "Contraforte
Contraforte
The contraforte is a proprietary version of the contrabassoon produced by Benedikt Eppelsheim and Guntram Wolf. It is intended to have improved dynamics and intonation over the distinctive but sometimes reticent sound of the conventional contrabassoon...
". The Contraforte has been received well in most countries but has a very small following in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with less than a half dozen players of the instrument.
More recently he has developed a redesigned bass oboe
Bass oboe
The bass oboe or baritone oboe is a double reed instrument in the woodwind family. It is about twice the size of a regular oboe and sounds an octave lower; it has a deep, full tone not unlike that of its higher-pitched cousin, the English horn. The bass oboe is notated in the treble clef, sounding...
, called the "lupophon
Lupophon
The Lupophon is a woodwind instrument invented and manufactured by Guntram Wolf of Kronach, Germany. It is in effect a modified heckelphone, with a slightly smaller bore and range down to low F. The lower portion of the instrument is folded back on itself in order to manage the considerable length...
".