A craft of ancient origin (the company was born in the middle half of the 19th century through the ability of a skilled craftsman Egidio Forni) and which under many aspects is really a true art. Customers of the Rampone & Cazzani were and are some of the most talented and famous musicians in the world: two names, among the many, that bear witness to the value of these instruments are the great Gerry Mulligan and Woody Allen.

Currently managed by Roberto Zolla, Rampone & Cazzani , as well as the acoustic part of the instrument, dedicates large attention to the ergonomic and intrinsic design aspects of the sax as an object of great appeal. In this respect we should point out the interesting association of the Quarna company with the famous Alessi of Omegna (known for its offer of extremely innovative household objects for the home and for its collaborations with the most important and renown designers), from which the Alessophone is born, a sax that is produced in just ten pieces a year and which is distinguished by its peculiar keyboard ergonomics, its unusual design and the strength of its emission as well as purity of sound.

As it often happens, when a company plays a driving role in a specific production, in the same area other manufacturing activities are born, both industrial and crafts oriented which, exploiting the fame of the first, also propose excellent products. This is the case for Quarna Sotto, so much so that the history of the Quarna craftsmen and their wind instruments is told in the Ethnographic and Wind Musical Instrument Museum.

(Photo: the musical band of Quarna Sotto)

July.2002

Lago d'Orta (In Italian)
Quarna sotto e sopra (In Italian)
Omegno art and industry museum