J. GERHARD HAMMIG

Gerhard Hamming, son of Philipp Hammig, was born in Markneukirchen in 1927. In 1941 he started to learn the flute making at his father’s workshop - which specialized on flute making only.

The Hammig family legacy of crafting woodwind instruments began around 1780, passing through eight generations and nearly 230 years.

This rich tradition started with Christian Gottlob Hammig (1759-1836), a woodwind instrument maker in Markneukirchen, Germany. According to family records, he worked as an independent maker producing transverse flutes, piccolos, clarinets, and oboes. Starting from his work through the present time, the profession of musical instrument making has been passed from son to son/sons. The business reached Philipp Hammig’s hands in the early 1900s.

During the period between 1906 to 1920, Philipp Hammig developed his skills to a high level and eventually built instruments under his own name. During this period, he started learning the profession in his father’s workshop, then went on to Berlin to the firm Rittershausen to study specialized flute making. Philipp Hammig returned to Markneukirchen upon finishing his vocational training.

In 1959, Philipp Hammig’s son, Gerhard took over the family business; however, the flutes and piccolos remained in the name of "Philipp Hammig," as they are known today, after Gerhard handed over the business to his four children in 1994.

Hammig piccolos are sought after all over the world due to the character found in their sweet, dark sound; a response found in such aged wood.