The Flute Instrument - Essay Example

? The Flute Instrument al Affiliation The flute was initially an ancient wood-wind instrument that was commonly used in churches in Europe during the 14th century. It is keyless and is the most known instrument for playing classical music. The history of the flute is classified into old system or German flute, and Boehm flute. The old flute was a single piece of wood, which had a cylindrical shape, and was less than two feet in length; it was better known as fife. The flute has evolved over the years, going through different modifications. However, the most preferred flute is the Boehm`s flute. His modification was successful, as he changed the flute from wooden to silver. The silver flute produced the best tone, and the thin hard-drawn tubes increased the metal`s capacity for vibration. The development of the flute has changed from one shape and size to another, and these modifications have improved the tune and the sound of the flute. In modern days, the flute has numerous uses ranging from musical shows and concerts, movies, Broadway shows, as well as Jazz players. Keywords: Flute, Development, Boehm Flute, Murrays Flute, Music, Old System Flute, German Flute, Keys, Tone, Sound, Tune Introduction Many forms of wood-wind instruments began to appear in the late fourteenth century. Brass instruments and their brass sounds had earlier been the only forms of music in the church services in Europe. According to the Marshall Cavendish Corporation, “the only woodwind instrument to leave a mark was the flute, which strongly influenced the popular music” (2003, p.2713). The flute was preferred for its softer tone compared to the brass instruments. It is the most flexible music instrument among the woodwind instruments. According to Moratz, “it can execute just about any style of music, from classical to jazz to rock. Other woodwinds like the oboe and bassoon don’t play mush jazz or rock, although they have a lot of classical repertoire” (2010, p.18). History and Development of the Flute Learning how to effectively play a flute is quite easy compared to other woodwind musical instruments. The “flute….is a musical weed which springs up everywhere” (Toff, 2008, p.3). There is quite a close relationship between the history of the flute and history of flute music. The history of the flute is divided into two phases namely the old system or German flute, and the Boehm flute. The old system flutes existed in the Middle Ages, it “was constructed of a single piece of wood; cylindrical in shape and just under two feet in length, it sounded a primary scale of D major” (Toff, 2008, p.41). It was commonly known as fife, and was mostly used by infantry marches, together with a small drum. Although instrumental music was distinct during the Renaissance period, the vocal model of various voice types, soprano, alto, tenor, and bass was still followed in the construction of musical instruments. In 1529, a publication by Martin Agricola`s called Musica Instrumentalis Deudsch, “showed four flutes, called Schweizer Pfeiffen, and labeled Discantus, Altus, Tenor, and Bassus” (Toff, 2008, p.41). A family of transverse flutes, whose musical values were different from the military use of the fife, was discovered by Michael Praetorius. Toff points out that “each of the three sizes of flutes in Praetorius’s plates has a two octave range and four additional falset notes available only to the most skilled performers” (2008, p.42). The first flute divided into two pieces in order to regulate the tuning of the ensemble was the bass flute. Two transverse flutes pitching D and G appeared in the 1636 work of Martin Mersenne called Harmonic Universalle. Spaced evenly on the cylindrical tube were six tones or finger holes. “Although these flutes had no keys, the farsighted Mersenne called attention to their absence and explained that the flute could be made fully chromatic by the addition of keys” (Toff, 2008, p.42). Despite the fact that Mersenne provided a sketch of what the additional keys would look like, the instrument acquired its first key more than fifty years later. During the baroque period, there was creation of the baroque transverse flute, which had six holes, but was all spaced on the flute in two groups of three holes each. The lowest, and to some extent the second hole was smaller, to help compensate for the smaller spacing between the holes. These holes were assembled to correspond to the arrangement of the human hands. As a result to this arrangement, the first and second octaves tended to be flat, and there was a big spacing between the third and fourth hole, which made the sound F more hard to produce, and in some situations, nearly semitone flat (Toff, 2008). The Hotteterre families were the creators of the redesigning the baroque flute during the seventeenth century. However, research has come to dispute this finding in 1700, arguing that the instrument was made of small pieces, rather than a single tube, and the finger holes were small. The most remarkable thing was the addition of the D key, which was generally dated to about 1660; this flute was known as the Lully`s Orchestra in Paris in 1670. The closed D, operated by the fourth finger of the right hand, dominates a seventh hole, bored just below the E hole. This instrument as describe by the Hotteterre was based on D major, and was divided into three sections; the head, which contained the mouth hole, the middle, which contained the six finger holes, and the foot, which housed the lone key (Toff, 2008). These sections were attached to each other by means of tenon and a socket joint. To reduce the shrillness of the earlier instruments, flute makers changed the bore from cylindrical to conical. The head joint remained cylindrical, while the other part remained tube like, tapered towards the foot. The flattening conical allowed the fingers to be placed together, which made the playing more natural. The taper prevented the formation of a strong first, second, and most of the even numbers partial or overtones, which resulted to a light tone. Flute makers reduced the size of the finger hole, which combined with the conical bore, increased the brightness of the tone; it nevertheless increased the tendency for flatness of intonation (Toff, 2008). When it came to fingering system, it created two schools of thought; the first school was to preserve the traditional system, and the second was to start afresh, by drilling a hole for each semitone. Boehm, a goldsmith established a factory for manufacturing flutes in the 1820s (Toff, 2008). Gerock and Wolf redesigned Boehm`s flute, it embraced two changes from the usual eight-keyed model. According to Toff, “the left hand fingering remained the same, but the A hole was brought down to its acoustically correct position and open key for the left-hand third finger used to reach it (2008, p.50). These keys gave room to the first right hand finger to stop two holes, rather than one, hence, producing a natural F instead of the old flute F. Boehm began another experiment on the choice of options for the flute in 1832 (Toff, 2008). He started with metal tubes, and consequently made a conclusion that silver and brass produced the best tone, and that thin hard-drawn tubes increased the metal`s capacity for vibration. He stated that his new silver flute was clear and superior as compared to the wooden flute. Boehm’s flute became popular in France and England. By the end of the nineteen century, the flute makers acknowledged that Boehm’s flute was there to stay, nevertheless a few minor changes were required. There were supplementary keys added to the flute, which were intended to solve specific problems; but they didn’t affect how the flute operated (Toff, 2008). The Murray flute was the work of Alexander Murray. It was another extensive variation of the Boehm design. He made several changes to some of his designs called the multiple option flutes. Today, it is available on a custom basis. In the coming years, the trend towards improving durable instruments will continue. It is unlikely that significant work will be done to the mechanism; Alex Murray, one of the best gadgeter of the present generation, states that “Boehm`s flute is 98% perfect” (Toff, 2008, p.60). The flute`s design is quite simple; the first flute was hollow-like with some holes put into it, but a few decades after that, it gradually graduated into a wooden tube with holes carved into them. Though a lot of changes may have occurred to the modern C flute, it has a cylindrical bore with the same width from top to bottom. The modern flute is divided into three parts; namely the head joint, body, and foot joint. The development of the modern flute has evolved from its introduction in 1847 by Theobald Boehm, and was modified by the French, English, and Americans from that period. Its tube is made of metal like silver, platinum, or gold and it is cylindrical in shape (Randel, 1986). The mechanism of the flute is based on the Boehm`s system. The modern flute had a range of different sizes like the piccolo, an octave higher, and the alto flute. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the flute was pitched in A, a third lower than the normal flute. Flutes became popular in Paris; by 1600, flutes became common alongside other side instruments like wind, string and plucked instruments. During the 17th century, the flute was included in the French theatrical for the lower part of their range. The flute popularity grew in Europe. During the 18th and 19th century, a number of new keys were incorporated for change of taste, and large concert halls. In 1831, Boehm designed a flute which replaced the conical bore with cylindrical one (Randel, 1986). Soon after, the French modified the flute to make it easier to produce and to market. The development of the flute was from one stage to another, medieval predecessor flutes were redesigned by the Hotteterre`s, and changed the basic acoustic element of the instrument. He expanded the range, improved intonation and got a refined tone. It was then that he created the one-keyed flute in 1660. The first the one-keyed flute had six keyless finger holes. It was developed as a radical transformation from its renaissance flute. It later developed from a cylindrical flute to a two piece instrument with six finger holes under the open-keyed flute, to control the fourteen holes of the flute with only nine fingers. The right thumb was used to support the instrument. To improve the flute`s ability to have different tunes, it had to be divided into four parts; the upper, upper-middle, lower-middle and lower parts (Shiung, 2008). A keyed flute shows the development of the simple-system instrument (Brown, 2002). The term simple-system is used to describe a flute with three and twelve keys. Other developments took place during the 18th and 19th centuries, when flute makers added a seventeenth key on the flute so as to extend its range down as low as G (Shiung, 2008). The continuous efforts to modify this flute were because of the lack of appreciation from the composers, performers, and flute makers. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Boehm developed a flute that created the Boehm`s flute, which was the only wind instrument. He developed the flute with large holes, which covered the open standing keys and rearranged the mechanism of the flute. The Boehm flute is universally accepted, and the silver flute is so popular and famous in France. The development from simple flute to Boehm flute was greater than the development from one-keyed to multi-keyed instruments (Brown, 2002). There were changes from the old closed-key system of the then famous eight-keyed flute, to an open-key system (Shiung, 2008). Boehm replaced the wooden flute body with a silver one. The problem with the simple system flute was the indifference to acoustical principle. The German reform flute was established after the Boehm`s flute, despite its great respect. Maximillian believed that the cylindrical bores lacked the capacity to produce nuances. Nevertheless, he made adjustments to the old simple-system flute. The Boehm`s flute was adopted by many manufacturers, while investors tried to modify the flute. The modification was aimed at enhancing the aspects of playing the flute, instrument responsiveness, pitch uniformity, technique enhancement, and tone production (Shiung, 2008). One of the modifications of the Boehm`s flute was the cooper scale, which was developed in the 1970`s. The head joint is known as the determinant of the tone, projection, and responsiveness of the flute. Sandy Drelinger enhanced the head joint in 2000, he explained that it “enhanced the smoothest flow of air by eliminating solder joint within the blow hole”(Shiung, 2008, p.39). Unlike the convectional flute, the head joint, lips plate, chimney, and the undercut section are one piece. Drelinger used the Gold-Air-reed and Platinum-Air-reed, which added to the improvement of the output by reducing the buzzing sounds, and enhancing a smoother overtone pattern throughout the octaves. Modern Use of the Flute The modern flute is known as the Boehm flute (Maclagan, 2009). It can be used in different ways, for example, it is used for classical music and movies. It also plays a vital role in the Broadway musical shows; shows like Miss Saigon, and the Lion King. The Lion King includes more than 15 different types of flutes. Music in the movies such as Titanic is produced by the flute. Jazz players like Herbie Man and Hubert Laws brought the flute to new grounds in 1960`s and 1970`s, and in present times, the flute has become instrumental. The flute is an art of music and has been used in theoretical writings, iconography, and music. The instrument is widely used in the flute concerts, and as a solo instrument in the mixed ensembles, at a particular time and place (Wainwright and Holman, 2005). In conclusion, the flute can be said to the one of the earliest musical instruments. It was the only wood-wind instrument and had no keys. Today, it is known for playing classical music. The history of the flute and that of flute music is closely connected, with the history of the flute being divided into the old system or German flute, and the Boehm flute. The old flute was cylindrical in shape and was less than two feet in length; it was also known as the fife. Various developments have taken place giving rise to the modern flute, and its uses are numerous. References List Brown, R. (2002). The Early Flute: A Practical Guide. New York: Cambridge University Press. Galkin, E. (1988). A History of Orchestral Conducting: In Theory and Practice. London: Pendragon Press. Maclaga, S. (2009). A Dictionary for the Modern Flutist. Plymouth: Scarecrow Press, Inc. Marshall Cavendish Corporation. (2003). How It Works. New York: Marshall Cavendish. Randel, D. (1986). The Harvard Dictionary of Music. New York: Harvard University Press. Shiung, C. (2008). The Brannen-Cooper Kingma System Flute: A Resource Thesaurus of Multiphonic Production Capacity. Ann Arbor: ProQuest Information and Learning Company. Toff, N. (1985).The Flute Book: A Complete Guide for Students and Performers. New York: Oxford University Press. Wainwright, J. & Holman, P. (2005). From Renaissance to Baroque: Change in Instruments and Instrumental Music in the Seventeenth Century. England: Ashgate Publishing Company. Read More