The use of wooden mutes is popular in European orchestras and helps create that distinctive muted sound which is so useful in nineteenth-century orchestral music. They are especially useful when used in opera, where often a very soft pianissimo is required. Denis Wick wooden mutes can be found in many leading opera houses around the world, including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the Teatro alla Scala, Milan.
The mutes are very light and resonant, and are also very rigid. They are all individually hand-crafted. The bases are made from a solid piece of marine ply and the wooden ‘cone’ from Finnish birch wood. The inner lining is applied by a special method which ensures maximum strength and resonance.