Featured Maker Interview • Aafab

We’re reviving our Featured Maker blog in honour of this year’s Recorder31, our month-long celebration of the recorder, where today the spotlight is on Aafab. Known for producing the Aura and Coolsma ranges, as handed over from Hans Coolsma around 35 years ago, we are pleased to stock their instruments at The Early Music Shop, and here’s a chance for you to get to know their range a little better.

The Early Music Shop: Your business grew out of the Hans Coolsma workshop which was passed on to Aafab on Coolsma’s death in 1991. What is it like to contribute to such an important legacy of recorder making?

Aafab: Aafab began in 1977 with the import of Ariel and Zamir recorders and, around 1988, with a partnership with Dolmetsch in Haslemere. For this purpose, we established sales channels in several European countries. In 1990, Coolsma wanted to close down, and we were able to reach an agreement to take over the production of Coolsma and Aura recorders. Thanks to our extensive sales contacts, we were able to expand production. Furthermore, in collaboration with several expert employees from the Coolsma workshop, we were able to add several new models to the range.

Hans Coolsma (R) with celebrated recorder player Edgar Hunt (L).

EMS: The Aafab workshop is based in Utrecht, a city with significant recorder history dating back to Jacob Van Eyck in the mid-17th century. What is the recorder scene like in Utrecht now, and does it feel important to build on this history?

Aafab: We certainly feel that Utrecht is an important center for older music in the Netherlands, particularly with a connection to recorders. As the bearer of a historical recorder name like Coolsma, this naturally places a responsibility on us to handle this responsibly, especially with regard to quality and service for users.

EMS: One of the celebrated ranges of recorders you make is the Aura Conservatorium. These have been successful instruments since the 1950s. What do you think makes them such a popular choice for players?

Aafab: In addition to the Coolsma Solo flutes, which are primarily intended for professional players, we also developed the Aura Conservatorium models for advanced players at an early stage. This allowed us to apply the experience gained with the Coolsma solo flutes to these models. Thanks to the development of aids for the Coolsma Solo flutes, a curved, double-sided conical windway, as well as a reinforced thumbhole ring to prevent locking, could also be added to the Aura Conservatorium models.

Click here to discover Aura Conservatorium recorders.

EMS: Since the Conservatorium range was handed over to the Aafab workshop, you have expanded the range to include sopraninos, knick tenors and more. Is it important to continue expanding and adding new models to the range?

Aafab: Because users' need for ease of play has also increased, we strive to further develop this as well. This is achieved, for example, by taking better account of the spacing when drilling the tone holes, drilling them at an angle if this improves playing comfort. For the Basses and Tenors, we started early on with bend models, which allow the right hand, in particular, to relax considerably. A further development is the Aura Comfort Tenors with various keys, as well as the one-handed flutes for people with disabilities, allowing them to fully play the recorder with one hand.

Click here to discover comfort and knick tenors by Aura.

EMS: Another interesting model in your range is the Millenium square bass. Available as a great bass and contra bass, this contemporary design features a birch wood design and carbon fibre keys. Please tell us a little about the development of this instrument?

Aafab: We've noticed a steady increase in demand for Great Basses (in C) and Subbasses (in F). We explored various options, focusing on sound quality and preferably at an acceptable price. This ultimately led us to the current rectangular Millenium models. Due to their rigidity and relatively low weight, we opted for carbon keys. Especially with these large instruments, it's crucial to ensure there's no air leakage, especially during playing. A solid seal between the parts is therefore crucial.

EMS: Alongside your instruments, Aafab also publishes Dutch-language magazine De Blockfluitist. Have you found the magazine to reach beyond the recorder world and draw new people to the instrument?

Aafab: We publish the magazine “Blokfluitist” with several players in the Netherlands and Belgium. We've noticed that more and more people interested in the recorder are reading this magazine, and this creates a sense of community with other recorder players, something others are eager to join in on.

EMS: Next year marks 75 years since Hans Coolsma established the workshop – do you have any special celebrations planned?

75 years of Hans Coolsma recorder playing is certainly a special year, and we certainly have to do something special, but we haven't fully developed this yet. To be continued.