Mancini USA flute

[kiwibarb12]

Hi - back in the early '80's I came to the US, and decided to learn the flute. I found a flute teacher, bought a beginner flute and proceeded to learn.
My teacher ran a music company, and let me play one of his personal flutes which I absolutely adored playing. It had a lovely tone and was actually easier to play than my beginner flute - so I bought it.
He told me that he used to play orchestra in Hollywood, basically part of the orchestras that did scores for movies, and that the flute was one of six that Henry Mancini had commissioned for a movie score. He has since died.

What I was looking for was confirmation or complete ridicule for this story. If anyone can help I would appreciate it.

The flute is silver plated and is engraved "Mancini USA".

Barbara

[pied_piper]

Hmm. Nearly every professional flutist (including those who would have played in Hollywood studio orchestras) play sterling silver flutes and not silver plated ones. Also, with an abundance of professional flutes readily available in the 80's, I can think of no reason why Henry Mancini would have "commissioned" six silver plated flutes. It would be difficult to prove or disprove your teacher's claim. Without some type of paper trail, i.e. a receipt for six flutes sold to Mr. Mancini or a verifiable statement from others who worked with Mancini, it sounds like a suspicious claim...

[SylvreKat]

I wonder if a flute company of the era hoped to get a commission from Mancini, so made a few samples for him. Which didn't pan out so they became the end of the trail.

Have you tried contacting any manufacturers from that time to see if they know anything about a Mancini USA flute? Or you might see if any directors of Mancini's scores are still alive and try contacting them. Or you might even write to Sir James Galway to ask if he knows anything about it--he was good friends with "Hank".

If you do find out anything. please come back and let us know. I'm curious now about your flute.

>'Kat