Stephen, I agree with Hans Pizka that Langwill is not always
accurate when dealing with central European instrument makers, but in
the case of August Bopp it's spot on (Langwill's source for this was
the collector-scholar Karl Ventzke of Dueren). Erich Tremmel
(Blasinstrumentenbau im 19. Jahrhundert in Suedbayern; Augsburg,
1993) reaffirms that Bopp moved to Munich in 1864, started his
specialist brass workshop in 1869, and passed the business on to
Anton Schoepf Jr. ca. 1914. Tremmel also verified Bopp's death date,
Sept. 1, 1918, with the Munich Staedt. Friedhofsverwaltung in 1991.
Bopp's instruments were well regarded at home and by German-born
hornists in the US -- Norman Schweikert mentioned that when he first
arrived at the CSO they had a full set of Bopp Wagner tubas. Bopp's
horns show up on German ebay occasionally, usually in bad shape, so
if the horn you saw is in good condition then it's a minor
collector's item. I have graphics of two Bopp F horns (one crooked,
one with fixed leadpipe), so if you'd like jpgs for comparison
purposes just let me know.
Thank you all...come to the beach, the weather is great!
Love to, and if you ever have a yen for a northern deciduous rain
forest, drop me a line. It's soggy and cool, but has other
consolations (Lohengrin is playing in the opera house this week).
Bill Melton
Hauset (B) / Sinfonie Orchester Aachen (D)
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