Just in: James Galway, 85, sells off his golden flutes
NewsThe Irish virtuoso, who turns 85 on December 8, has put up three golden flutes for sale at prices from £51,000 to £120,000 ($65-153,000).
Sir James Galway, a Belfast lad who was principal flute of the Berlin Philharmonic from 1969 to 1975, went on to enjoy a spectacular career as a celebrity soloist. He recorded more than 70 albums and was knighted in 2001 for services to music.
Here’s the sales talk:
Each flute is crafted entirely from solid gold—9k, 14k, and 18k respectively—and adorned with diamond inlays on the D# keys and headjoint crowns, totaling 56 diamonds across the collection. These instruments were central to Sir James’s performances and recordings during the mid-1990s into the 2000s, and each bears the unique hallmark of his legendary artistry. The flutes range in price from £50,995 to £119,995.
The flutes are being sold through Just Flutes in South London. “This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of musical history,” said Adam Clifford, Managing Director of Just Flutes. “James Galway inspired thousands to take up the flute, myself included, and it’s an honour to be selling these on behalf of such an influential classical star. These flutes have been an integral part of Sir James’s life on stage and in the studio, and I am excited to help find them new homes where their legacy can continue to inspire.”
Contact: jonathan@justflutes.com
That belongs in a museum!
They might not be to everyone’s taste but any playable instrument belongs in a musician’s hand. What good do they do in a museum?
There is no museum for musical instruments, such museums or museum departments are actually cemeteries.
I think Vienna’s Wien Museum might take issue with your rather dismissive comment, Pianofortissimo.
Also the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, AZ
I’ve been to many music museums – none of them come close to the one in Phoenix. They got great financing and for music lovers that place alone is worth the trip.
You need to go to Berlin. It’s worth a day at the Philharmonie.
Of course there should be museums for very old or less common or alien musical instruments that are not meant to be played anymore. And, sure, some appreciate seeing Tutankhamun’s mummy.
As would the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian – their instruments, at least the playable ones, are played on.
Also the Musical Instrument Museum in Brussels!
Berlin has a museum for musical instruments right next to the Philharmonie.
Do some research before you post.
Here are three in the US. https://www.nmmusd.org/ and https://mim.org/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu8W6BhC-ARIsACEQoDAUEixiR-oFqzu_uToSwwvvZrGezTpTu2eXq_xgvdEt471wBVrmFAIaAiS2EALw_wcB and https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/collection-areas/musical-instruments
Well, tell me what the Musical Instruments Museum is in the Berlin Phikharmonie….
I’ve been to one such museum, Sigal Music Museum in Greenville, SC. They have a large collection of claviers including one of Mozart’s, woodwinds, etc.
I have been to several wonderful classical musical instrument museums and compared to some, I don’t feel that I have travelled that much! There is at least one very good one in Prague and there are some in Vienna and of course, the Bates Collection in Oxford.. There are several collections of historic instruments eg violins by famous makers
The proper museum will be a concert hall in the hands of a fine flute player.
No matter how good a future flautist may be, as soon as he or she presses one of Galway’s golden flutes against the lower lips, he or she and the esteemed audience will be reminded within seconds that there will never be another James Galway.
In his prime, Galway had a very impressive technique (no one can deny that). But applying “discount opera” singing to all flute music doesn’t compensate for lack of artistry.
This has sent me off to listen to that sweet tone, again. What a player he is.
You mean was, surely. He’s not played for years.
But he seems to be in absolutely rude health. Good luck to him!
Debbie downer. Grow up
So negative
He plays. He has Master Classes all the time. His accompanist is the same person for 35 years.
many years ago i saw him at the RFH.
London. he was very
nice. he asked if we
enjoyed the concert.
There is a large number of flutes at the Daton C. MIller collection at the Library of Congress. Galway’s should be played, except, maybe the diamond encrusted one. That’s way over top. If it doesn’t improve the sound, it doesn’t belong on a flute.
Perhaps the diamonds added sparkle to his performances. ;-))
Saw him many years ago playing a Mozart concerto with Sanderling conducting. Galway had a twinkle in his eye and a smile and a sense of humor. Sanderling most definitely had none of these.
But Sanderling’s music making had plenty of other quite positive qualities. And one of the two times that I saw Galway play with an orchestra, he was incredibly sharp (from an intonation standpoint) the entire performance, and got completely lost in the cadenza.
Wow I should have taken up the flute. A gold flute used by Galway for $65k and immediate delivery. A new Heckel Bassoon is $75k and a 17 year wait!
The. most important spec is not the gold purity but person who actually made the flutes.
Sir James is an absolute legend!
Bravo maestro! Congratulations for your stellar career! You are one of the greatest and most influential flutists of the past century.
“entirely from solid gold—9k, 14k, and 18k respectively”
9K = 37.5% gold
14K = 58.3% gold
18k = 75% gold
So while he is technically correct, it is indeed “solid” gold (otherwise, it’d be “liquid” gold, which for a flute is kind of hard to play), his advertisement is misleading because it is not “pure” gold, which “solid gold” suggests in common parlance
As for the diamonds, he doesn’t specify the carats, but we can safely assume they are also “solid”
Pitiful! Does Sir James need the money? How bout a “Go Fund Me” campaign, first? I’d toss in a few Bob?
In terms of musicianship, Galway is the Heifetz of the flute – of that there is no possible doubt. But not only is his technique stunning – he’s also such a pleasant guy. If this means that he has retired, it’s a sad day. Sic transit gloria mundi. I hope he continues to enjoy good health and good humour for many years to come.
On a technical matter, could anyone shed some light upon whether the metal of which the flute is made affects the tone? Clearly there is a tonal difference between the wooden flutes and the metal ones, but is there any difference in sound between a silver flute and a golden one? Are there any plastic flutes (other than toy ones) and if so, how do they sound? Flautists, could you elucidate?
Gold is about twice as heavy as silver, so it would seem that a golden flute would be more difficult to handle. On the matter of the purity of the gold, pure (ie, 24 carat) gold is a relatively soft metal, so anything made of that would readily suffer wear and tear or damage. Alloying it with small amounts of other metals greatly increases its strength.
I seriously doubt they are SOLID gold, as they would be far too heavy to hold let alone play properly.
They are indeed solid gold (9k, 14k, and 18k respectively), and while they are certainly heavier than a silver flute, they are by no means unmanageable. A very very very large number of professional flute players worldwide play on solid gold flutes.
Bravo to Jimmy Galway- the greatest flautist of all time IMHO. Being a very moderate Flute blower myself- I often wondered if Gold (although it looks spectacular under the concert lighting) actually adds anything to the tone quality of the instrument?
It’s clear from comments that nobody here plays any musical instruments. What a bunch of losers you all are.