The Flute

I thought it would be wise to expand on the limited information given in the course materials for each individual woodwind instrument in order to better acquaint myself with it's technical specifications and possibilities. This information in combination with careful listening to the suggested pieces should give me a good basis of knowledge which I can use as a springboard to write my own pieces for this colourful section of the orchestra.

The initial information is research previously undertaken for the course Music 1: From the Present to the Past, and put into my own words. It is entirely relevant in its original form here, so I have made a direct copy for this blog. After, I have included notes made on additional information found in Samuel Adler's The Study of Orchestration 3rd Ed. I have made this in bullet point form to keep it concise, easy to remember and easy to refer back to later.

From my blog: music1listeningblog.blogspot.co.uk :

History

The flute is an ancient instrument, with examples found dating from the stone age. The modern western concert flute dealt with here, part of a family which includes the piccolo, alto flute and bass flute was developed by Theobald Boehm (1794–1881), with only minor alterations since.

Note Production

It is a transverse instrument; in other words it is held sideways. It is the only woodwind instrument that doesn't make use of a reed; instead it is an aerophone - an instruments that produces sound through air vibration, without the use of strings or membranes, and where the vibrating body of the instrument doesn't produce the primary sound. The sound is produced by air flow across an opening (called the embouchure hole). This causes a rapid vibration at this opening, which causes the air inside the flute to vibrate, which produces the sound.

On the outside of the flute along with the embouchure hole, there is another 15 or 16 holes, which can be opened or closed with the use of the keys, on the keyset. The flute is essentially a hollow tube, so by opening or closing the holes, you are changing the length of the tube, and in turn the pitch of the note. The more keys that are pressed down, the longer the resonating chamber (the hollow tube), and the lower the pitch of the note. The positioning of the lips and use of facial muscles are also all crucial to the sound produced.

Construction

The western concert flute is usually made of nickel plated copper or similar for student models, with concert flautist's instruments being silver plated, or thorough sterling silver, or gold.

It consists of three parts: the headjoint, middlejoint, and footjoint. Beginner models will usually have a 'C' footjoint, with more accomplished players opting for a 'B' foot, allowing the lower note to be played, but at more difficulty.

On the outside of the flute is the keywork, the keys of which are used to open and close the various holes along the length of the instrument.

The flute typically comes in two varieties - instruments with open hole keys, that is holes in the centre of five keys, often chosen by concert flutists, which is louder and clearer in the lower register, and those with 'plateau' keys with no holes which is easier for beginner flautists.

Playing Techniques

The flute is played by holding the instrument sideways, with the bottom lip tucked in slightly and resting on the lip plate. The air stream is then directed across the hole, similar to how one can produce a sound by blowing into a glass bottle. It is a very agile instrument, able to perform staccato and legato notes even a high speed. Tremolos and trills can be played with ease, however lower pitches are more difficult due to being executed with little finger. It is also able to perform a variety of other sounds and effects:-

- Vibrato, using the diaphragm, larynx and lips.
- Flutter Tonguing - executing a rolled 'r' with the tongue for a rapid tremolo.
- Pitch Bend - Turning the flute changes the angle of the embouchure.
- Tongue Pizzicato (darts quickly in and out from between lips).
- Key Slap (percussive effect)
- Tongue Slap - Similar to key slap but with the embouchure hole.
- Tongue Click.


From Samuel Adler's The Study of Orchestration 3rd Ed. :

• The only non-reed woodwind instrument.
• The most agile and sensitive.
• Ranges from C1 (middle C) to D4.
• Some flutes, particularly in America, have a b-foot, which allows the B natural below C1 to be played.
• Pitches above A3 are difficult to play and much be approached with caution, preferably approached by an ascending scale.
• Generally the pitches in the lowest and highest fourths are most problematic, especially for nonprofessionals.
• The lower registers are luscious, but should only be accompanied by sparse orchestral texture so that the flute is able to be heard. 
• Flutes take lots of breath, time should be given to breathe after difficult or sustained passages.
• Some trills and tremelos are incredibly difficult, if not impossible to play and should be avoided. Writing trills and tremelos for the middle of the range is safest.
• Can play 'actual' harmonics for a white, pale sound (indicated by a small circle above the note, as in the strings).