The Flute is a tubular wind instrument in which sound is produced by a stream of air directed against a sharp edge, upon which the air breaks into eddies that alternate regularly above and below the edge, setting into vibration the air enclosed. Usually additional holes in the flute wall can be opened or closed to produce different pitches. In transverse flutes, such as the Western orchestral flute and the Chinese di, the mouth hole is cut into the side of the tube. In duct flutes, such as the end-blown recorder, a mouthpiece channels the breath against the edge of a sound hole.
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The modern orchestral Boehm-system flute (pitched in C) is made of wood (cocuswood or blackwood) or metal (silver or a substitute). It is 26½ inches (67cm) long with a bore of about ¾ inch, built in 3 sections. The body and the foot joint have the note holes (13 at least), which are controlled by an interlocking mechanism of padded key plates hinged on a longitudinal axis. The bore narrows in the head joint which contains the mouth hole, and is closed just above the hole by a cork or fibre stopper. It is open at the foot end. Other flute sizes include the piccolo, the alto flute in G and the bass flute an octave below the flute.
The transverse flute, the characteristic flute of Western music, is held sideways to the right of the player. It was known in ancient Greece by the 2nd century BC and was recorded in India, then China and Japan. By about AD 1100 it has reached Europe, where it became a military flute in German-speaking areas. Families of flutes from soprano to bass were played in the 16th and 17th century. The tenor flute, pitched in G, was played in consort with descant and bass flute. All were typically boxwood with six finger holes and no keys.
Click above to hear Vivaldi's
flute concerto 'La Notte'
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The flute was redesigned in the late 1600s by the Hotteterre family of woodwind makers. They built it in 3 sections with one key and a conical bore tapering away from the player. This flute displaced the recorder as the orchestral flute in the late 1700s. From 1760, in order to improve various semitones, three chromatic keys began to be used. Another four more keys were added in the 19th century.
In 1832, the Munich Flute player Theobald Boehm studied the newer techniques of flute making set out to rationalizing the instrument. In 1847, he patented his cylindrical bore flute with a parabolic head, it is the model in widest use in the 20th century. This made pitch more accurate and timbres equal in different registers. It also allowed complete expressive control throughout the compass at all dynamic levels and almost limitless flexibility. The cylindrical Boehm flute has thirteen or more tone holes controlled by a system of padded keys. Its range extends three octaves, from middle C upwards.
Classical Repertoire for the flute is volumous as compared to many other instruments. This is probably due to its range and its pleasant timbre. Also, the instrument is very popular amongst many of the young learner musician. Classical repertoire for the flute include Bach's Flute Concertos and sonatas, Mozart's Flute Concertos and quartets among the more famous ones. Other composers for the instrument include Telemann, Vivaldi and Hadyn as well as lesser known composers of the instrument are Kuhlau, Boccherini, Giuliani and Carulli. The flute is also very flexible in that it is not only restricted to Classical Music but also to Jazz and Ethnic music such as those which are of Japanese or Chinese in origin.
Famous flautists include the popular James Galway who is regarded as both a supreme interpreter of the classical flute repertoire and an entertainer whose appeal crosses all musical bounderies. He has nearly 50 best selling records and has appeared in the "Tonight Show," the "Today Show" and even "Sesame Street." Another oustanding performer is Jonathan Snowden, Britain's premier solo Flautist. His thrilling sound and technical virtousity has led him to be described as 'one of the most brilliant flautists of his generation.' He has held the principal flautist post in the Royal Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic and the Philharmonia Orchestra.
But one of twentieth century's greatest flute players is Jean-Pierre Rampal who brought the flute into the international concert circuit for the first time. His technique and musicianship attracted loyal audiences around the globe, drawn especially to his famous tone and his ability to project subtle nuances. His talent was complimented by his boundless energy and his tireless promotion of the flute, which has succeeded in developing an international market for flute music. Rampal died on May 20, 2000 at the age of 78, leaving a legacy of recordings for all to remember him by.
