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Cornelius Degen (1956-2014)
Cornelius Degen was a German storyteller and musician using nose flutes in his performances. But more than that, he was a fine craftsman - notably making wooden "magic" boxes - and an inventive nose flute builder. Cornelius built beautifully designed Nasenflöten, finely crafted, and invented a sliding air duct cover allowing one to set the global tuning of the flute, from medium to sharp. We had previously written a post about him and his work.
We just learned that Cornelius Degen passed away last February, after a long disease. We are very sad, and the nose flute world lost an active advocate of the little wind instrument. Noseflute.org has decided to nominate him as member of the Nose Flute Hall of Fame, in the "Producers" section.
The Nosy Diva, who knew him personally, wrote this little message :
I met Cornelius Degen at the Kulturelle Landpartie in the Wendland two years ago. There were always lots of people looking at the fascinating things he had made and the stories he told about them. There was a litle butterfly magically moving his wings, a little golden ball that made fairylike sound and this tall, gentle man speaking like a storyteller of the ancient times. I was so fascinated that I did not see at once he had nose flutes also, very fine, beautifully crafted instruments with interesting details.
I remember him well and I am very sad that he left us at such young age. He was a great inventor, craftsman, storyteller and a beautiful person.
Danke Cornelius to have reminded us of the magic of life and little things! For your creativity and research and craftsmanship, you absolutely deserve a place in the Nose Flute Hall of Fame!
Noseflute.org, very lately aware of the sad news, sends its whole sympathy to the family and friends.
Sorry about Mr. Degen. He seemed to be a fine and talented gentleman.
ReplyDeleteLet us celebrate Nose Flute Day. Play and tell people about it.
Some days ago I posted a video playing my Bocarina while juggling . Today is also World Juggling Day.
Luis
So sad to hear about Cornelius Degen's passing away. I was aware that he had been seriously ill for quite some time.
ReplyDeleteI was very keen on contacting Conelius Degen as an artisan manufacturer of the nose flute. Getting in touch with him proved to be hard though, as the only way of contacting him was via 'snail mail'. I have kept his handwritten letter in green ink from last September, which I received 3 months after writing to him.
To my surprise, Cornelius had discovered that a larger nose flute doesn't produce a deeper, lower sound. He had worked on this element though, by tuning the labium, which he had found out to be essential in that department.
It was heartwarming to read that Conelius Degen enjoyed playing and manufacturing the nose flute so very much. Cornelius concluded by stating he was looking forward to an exchange, which sadly never happened.
My condolences to those who knew him and to the ones he leaves behind.
Hello guys!
ReplyDelete@Don Luis : published! Great job you did there!
@Maikel : Yes, it is a very bad news, nevertheless sadly expectable... His work in magical gimmicks and nose flutes was great. I love the 2 flutes I have, very well, precisely made, in hard wood, with a beautiful design. The sliding top really works to tune up the flute. I have never met Cornelius, but the Diva had, and it seems he was a very nice and gentle man.