Johan Brögger

Johan Brögger, Luthier - flutemaker, goldsmith & inventor

Johan Brögger's flutes are produced by Brannen Broths, Boston US and Miyazawa Flutes, Japan.

Few among us can claim the diversity of careers and interests that characterize the life of Johan Brögger. Originally educated in medicine, he has worked in that field as well as in government, hospital design, gold and silver smithing, instrument restoration, repair and manufacture.

"Simple is beautiful" - Johan Brögger

His inherent curiosity has frequently led to new and better solutions to old problems. His perfectionist nature has helped him to develop standards of workmanship which are of the very highest order.

See photos of The Original Brögger flute
See photo of The Original Johan Brögger head joint

Louis Lot

Johan Brögger has always had a passionate relationship to music and instruments - since 1964 he has built lutes and guitars and made many experiments. In 1973 the flute had captured his attention. Realizing that he lacked certain skills necessary to pursue flutemaking, he began studying gold and silversmithing with Jens Houvgaard, a well-known Danish craftsman. Simultaneously, he sought out Jacques le Fèvre, who, before he became independent, had worked for a generation as a leading flutemaker in the famous firm of Louis Lot. The flutemakers Lot have existed for more than 250 years. Johan Brögger persuaded Lefèvre to teach him flutemaking according to this distinguished French tradition. In 1977 he opened his own shop for the repair, restoration and building of flutes.

“French versus German Flutes”

Patent and Design

Problems Johan Brögger encountered in the restoration and repair of traditional Boehm flutes led him to experiment with improvements of mechanism and design of various prototypes at the beginning of the 1980s. A few years later an epoch-making new invention existed which was patented in Denmark and the USA, and the flutemakers Brannen Broths in Boston began in 1986 a production of flutes under the name of Brögger Mekanik TM.

The Brögger Mechanical System ^TM

In the following years Johan Brögger has improved and refined the development of his flutes regarding acoustic and design, which inventions have also been patented. He is still working at new developments to complete the "Stradivari" of the flute. Each year he makes a very small number of exclusive headjoints and model flutes which are extremely coveted. In 1996 he redesigned his Brögger Mekanik and combined all his new inventions: Curved coupling rods, double conical tone holes, and thumb key mechanism in a complete concept of his design flute, The Brögger Mechanical System TM, which since 2005 is produced under licence by Miyazawa Flutes, Japan.

Through recent years Johan Brögger has gained fame and recognition in the whole flute world - and he has made a 18k gold flute for James Galway.

HQ Video: Johan Brögger and James Galway

Curved Coupling Rods in 6 Pieces
US Patent D 583,854 & D 576,200

All adjustments of the keys on the main axle are made by integrated loop clutches, side wings, and strongly constructed curved coupling rods in 6 pieces coacting with keys to effect soundless closings.
All keys on the main axle have charniers without split pins thus eliminating friction problems. This makes a faster and unproblematic mechanical function possible.
The tightening of the springs of the F sharp and B flat keys can be adjusted individually to obtain easy playing without friction.
The traditional sticking problems between the G and B flat keys have been eliminated even in inline-flutes with E mechanisms.

See photos of Brögger System ^TM

Brögger ^TM B Flat Thumb Key Mechanism

One fixed axle with an extra long charnier defining an angle of 20° - 75° relative to a longitudinal axis of the instrument.
The present invention avoids the disadvantages of the ordinary Briccialdi thumb key mechanism and provides further improvement, resulting in a more suitable and durable and more harmonious instrument having a higher degree of adaption to the anatomy of the human hand. Furthermore this thumb key mechanism with needle springs responds exactly like the other part of the flute mechanism.

Upper: Traditional Briccialdi B flat thumb key mechanism
Lower: Brögger B flat thumb key mechanism

Brögger ^TM Tone Holes

Double conical tone holes which give a more precise tone frequency, avoid the use of too much energy to obtain a certain sound intensity and volume, and an easier attack of the tone.
The disadvantages of the traditional cylindrical tone holes are that the tone quality is not in focus, and there is too much waste of energy. Furthermore the switch from one tone hole to another is not even.

Brögger ^TMDesign

Keys which are mounted on the charnier with curved compass suspension and a flat key bottom providing the possibility of a completely accurate adjustment to the tone hole without the support of pieces of paper or plastic under the pad.
With traditional keys you have an uneven bottom which is normally adjusted by pieces of paper or plastic, and which therefore fundamentally can never close the tone hole completely.

The Galway 18k Brögger flute

Brögger ^TM Headjoints

Specially curved embrosure mouthplate and hole. This combination gives superior control and brilliance of tone in all octaves with a minimum use of strength.
This headjoint is made according to the great tradition of the French flute maker Louis Lot combined with modern features. This type of headjoint is recommended in tubing .014" or .016", which gives a bright sound with a quick response of tone and provides a unique range of tone colours combined with a powerful tone.

Brögger headjoints, 14k gold - carbon fibre - 0,28mm silver

See photo of The Original Johan Brögger head joint

The above mentioned inventions and TM have all been patented in Denmark, the United States of America and Japan.

Filed Patents:

● Brögger System ™
● Brögger Design
● Brögger Mekanik
● Brögger B Flat Thumb Key

Video: Jean-Pierre Rampal 75 years in 1997 in conversation with Charlie Rose

The Rampal 18k Louis Lot no. 1375 from 1869

"You have to master all the problems of technique to be free to express yourself through your instrument. You can have a big imagination and a big heart but you cannot express it without technique. The first quality you must have to be good, to be inspiring, is the sound. Without the sound you cannot achieve anything. The tone, the sound, the sonorité is most important. Otherwise, with the fingers alone it is not enough... Everyone these days has the fingers, the virtuosity... but the sound, the tone, that’s not so easy.’

– Jean-Pierre Rampal

Bach BWV 1056 - largo

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J-P Rampal's favorite flute from 1959 - Wm. S. Haynes no. 29333 14kt. gold - now it belongs to flutist Claudi Arimany