Description
Levit Kingma System 14K Flute (#175) – Open Hole, Offset G and B foot.
The Levit Kingma System 14K flute is a quartertone flute developed with master flute makers Lev Levit and Eva Kingma. A unique and rarely available flute on the used market. Only available on special order with a long waiting list with Lev Levit in the USA. It is a stunning instrument with an extraordinary sound and is offered at a superb price.
What is a Kingma System flute?
It is a standard Boehm flute with 6 extra holes to allow a quartertone scale. These 6 extra keys are made possible by Kingma’s patented ‘key on key’ system. These keys are used to produce six of the seven quartertones and multiphonic vents which are “missing” on the normal French model flute. The seventh “missing” quartertone is achieved by using the C# trill key together with the normal C key. The other five quartertones are produced by using the normal, open hole keys. This creates much more than a quartertone flute, The extra keys offer a vastly expanded range of multiphonics, and provide an almost infinite number of pitch shading possibilities to deal with intonation at different dynamic levels. The additional keys are unobtrusive, intuitively positioned, and easy to reach. All other keys are exactly where they are on any standard open hole flute and so it is comfortable to play as a a normal Boehm flute as well.
Lev Levit history
Lev Levit’s career as a flutemaker began in 1993 at Verne Q. Powell Flutes, where he learned the art and science of hand-made key and body making. He ultimately rose to department supervisor. Seeking a new challenge, Mr. Levit left Powell in 1999 to work for Brannen Brothers Flutemakers, and for the next 11 years he honed his skills with several successful projects. In 2010 he decided to leave Brannen to pursue his dream of designing and handcrafting his own flute — two years later, he established the Levit Flute Company. Whilst working at Brannen, Lev met Eva Kingma and became friends and in 2012 came to an agreement to use her patented Kingma System. Shortly thereafter, he purchased the design rights and tooling for the Oston-Brannen flute from Bick Brannen, used for the original Kingma System concert flute introduced in 1994. His work is therefore heavily influenced by Brannen and fans of Brannen flutes will recognise this when playing his instruments.
Eva Kingma
Initially introduced to flute making by her great uncle Dirk Kuiper in the mid 1970’s, she went to work with him and subsequently took over his workshop in 1981. In 1987, Kingma and her uncle developed an open hole bass flute, marking the launch of the Kingma System. Kingma and Dick worked and traveled together for several years. But Kingma’s passion led her deeper into low flutes, and near the end of the 1980s, she moved her shop to the north of Holland and specialized in low flutes. She worked closely with pioneering flutemaker and designer Albert Cooper on scales and headjoints. She developed bass, contr’alto in G, contra, and subcontra flutes.
Levit Kingma System 14K Flute (#175)
This particular flute was constructed in 2020 and has had only one owner in that time. Condition is superb throughout and there are no dents or noticeable scratches. The pads are original and believed to be Straubinger and the flute was serviced approximately one year ago.
Specification is as follows: Open hole with offset G and B footjoint. 14K solid gold tubing with Sterling silver keys and rods. There is a C# trill in addition to the other extra keys mentioned.
The tonal quality of this flute is outstanding and has to be played. The solid 14K tube gives a darker tone with a rich palette of colours and the quartertone keys allow a vastly expanded range of multiphonics and provide an almost infinite number of pitch shading possibilities to deal with intonation at different dynamic levels.
