AZUMI flutes benefit from the experience of the ALTUS manufactory, especially with regard to the design of the headjoint, which is decisive for the sound, and especially the cut of the mouthplate. The room-filling sound of an AZUMI flute is particularly convincing due to its brilliant, clear, assertive highs, supporting mids and sonorous lows. This makes playing the flute fun!
The flutes of the AZUMI Z series are particularly popular with flute students due to their easy response and easy focusing. The rapid learning successes that are possible with these instruments are fun and motivating. There is the right model for every level, either with a silver lip-plate, silver headjoint or a full silver flute, you can find the right setup in the AZUMI assortment.
Advanced flutists with high demands on sound and design will find excellent models in the AZUMI S series to make successful and multifaceted music in classical orchestras, for chamber music, with flute ensembles or wind indstrument orchestras.
Shuichi Tanaka is one of the most extraordinary flutemakers to emerge from the Japanese tradition. He completed his flute studies with the Japanese pedagogue Toshio Takahashi. As a multi-talented musician, Tanaka developed a great interest in the characteristics and technical aspects of his instrument during his studies.
At the age of 20, he decided to learn the art of flute making. He was particularly interested in the headjoint construction. Here he had the opportunity to explore in detail all the factors of sound influence, that change with every cut, every filing stroke and every combination of materials. AZUMI offers particularly good-sounding headjoints, made of the typical materials Nickel silver, Sterling silver and Britannia silver, which enable players to bring out their individual sound ideas.
After a few years of training at Muramatsu and then working in a leading position at Miyazawa and Takumi, he realized his life's goal in 1981: Tanaka constructed his own specially constructed flute, which from then on operated under the name ALTUS. In seclusion and after work, he began to combine his diverse experience, which he had gained 15 years earlier as a flutist and flute maker, in the construction of his own, unique flute models.
On his ambitious musical path, Tanaka met the London flute virtuoso William Bennett (1936 - 2022). The common interest in music, culture and flute making grew into friendship and close cooperation. This is how the ALTUS scale was created, which also gives the AZUMI flutes an extraordinarily precise intonation.
"AZUMI flutes have a clear response, a brilliant sound and a precise intonation. Playing an AZUMI flute motivates and fascinates the students. AZUMI is a reliable partner for students and teachers."
The headjoint and the corresponding body form a tonal unit and produce the excellent sound of the AZUMI flutes. Learning to play the flute is a great pleasure and enables rapid progress and achievments.
The headjoint is fundamental to the sound and character of a flute. This fact inspired Shuichi Tanaka to make a handcrafted headjoint in conjunction with a high-quality, machine-made flute accessible to beginners and advanced flutists.
Tanaka created the AZUMI flutes of the Z and S series, which meet all the requirements of beginners and advanced musicians for learning the flute through ideal playing characteristics.
The headjoints that ALTUS manufactures for AZUMI are the result of passionate instrument making and dedication to precise craftsmanship. AZUMI benefits from the experience and knowledge of the Japanese manufacturer of flutes ALTUS. AZUMI flutes are available in two series, which offer you a wide range of tonal possibilities with their own cut of the mouthplate, material and sound characteristics.
In the Z series you will find the typical and popular Sterling silver (925) material in combination with the Z-Cut lip-plate design, for a quick and easy response. In the S series the more exclusive Britannia silver (958) is used, with the S-Cut lip-plate design, offering a higher blowing resistance and a variety of harmonics.