Woodwind Instruments – From Graslitz to Nauheim

The siblings Gabriele Nilsson-Püchner and Gerald Püchner are telling their company’s and family’s story, with roots in Bohemian Graslitz. Their story is reflecting the century’s political events, World Wars and expulsion of “Sudenten Germans”.

The company’s and family history dates back to Bohemian Graslitz, at that time part of the Austrian double monarchy. In 1898 Vinzenz Püchner registered in his home-town of Graslitz his independent firm of woodwind instrument making. Fifty years later, after World War II the company and firm re-located in Nauheim, in the state of Hesse where a small music industry was build up.

1988 the company was re-organised under the name „J. Püchner Spezial-Holzblasinstrumentebau GmbH“ which Walter’s children – Gabriele and Gerald - as fourth generation joined. Gabriele Nilsson-Püchner undertook piano studies at the Academy of Music in Darmstadt and studied the oboe. After here exam and a lectureship in Darmstadt she worked since 1983 in the management of the firm. Gerald Püchner completed his instrument maker’s studies and passed his Master’s Certificate in Munich in 1992.

Bassoons, Contrabassoons, Oboes and English horns of Püchner are standing out by their excellent craftsmanship based on the knowledge passed on from generation to generation. Musicians from all over the world are visiting Nauheim personally to select their woodwind instrument at Püchner’s renown workshop.

Film by the BdV Landesverband Hessen e.V., Wiesbaden in collaboration with Harald Kuntze (www.haraldkuntze.de).

Supported by the Hessian Ministry of the Interior and Sports