Who is Henri Oiseau?

Legend has it that a French nobleman, the Marquis Henri Oiseau from the early 1500′s, had a passion for music, and keen to learn to play the stringed instruments of the day, he surrounded himself with the best court musicians , excelled, and would hold lavish parties to ‘show off’ his love of music. This would develop into encouraging new young players (probably children of nobility) and in doing so, possibly created the first French music academy!

The employment of an official court Luthier working closely with Henri and his pupils, would between them design and develop instruments bearing the same headstock logo we use today (taken from elements of his heraldic crest, and much copied to date!) and become an important link in the musical chain.

Despite his wealth and influence, politics would eventually interfere with ‘court life’ and rumours of treason and adultery would see him exiled to finish his life in solitude, although I suspect with one of his treasured instruments.

It is in honour of the legend we continue his name and with a range of limited edition, hand made instruments in the style of a more ‘recent’ musical period , the age of Jazz.

Henri Oiseau ‘reformed’ in 2005, and we are pleased to announce the ‘Jazz 175’, ‘Jazz 165’ and the ‘Jazz 335’ models. These are available in several colours and finishes and we can offer a ‘personal’ setup service through our consulting luthiers, the internationally respected John Levois, of Lincoln UK, and John Vickers of Vintage Strings Cheltenham UK.