Evolutions in flute making

Benoît FABRELaboratoire d’Acoustique Musicale,

Paris, France

Jean-Yves ROOSENflute maker, France

flutes-roosen@cegetel.net16 r Trugny 02400 Epieds

fabreb@ccr.jussieu.fr

History of flutes during 20th century

• technical evolutions (mecanisms, pads)

• sound aesthetics evolution : consequences on flute playingand making

• economic and business evolutions

1850 1900 1950 2000

BoehmGordon

...

Lot, BonnevilleDjalma-Julliot

...

.

1900 to 2000 poorly documented !

technical evolutions...

key systems in 1845 and 2000

from Lenski & Ventzke, Moeck 1992

... technical evolutions...

pads :replacing tissues (guts) by synthetic material ?

... technical evolutions.

better making tools........ improving adjustment, long term stability.

sounding aesthetics :

• evolution of the blowinghole– volume, height, angles...

sounding aesthetics :

• flute making adapts to evolutions in :– playing technique– musical taste

Marcel Moyse, 1935

Alain Marion, 1985blowing holes geometry

from Lenski & Ventzke, Moeck 1992

economic and business evolutions...

Thibouville frères, Ivry la bataille

1925

craftsman (artisan) :

solo to « n-craftsmen »

from Lenski & Ventzke, Moeck 1992

...economic and business evolutions...

Development of the production :

• Haynes flutes (circa 1950)

middle-size

...economic and business evolutions.

• Jinyin, China : « This is the flute and saxophone assembly area. »

Development of the musical education :mass production for student models

High level instruments in Industrial production :

– high level instruments are handmade even in industrial context

– a few « selected players »are associated for marketing purpose

– no possibilities for individual requests

– catalog, options

Giuseppe Zammitti at Haynes flutes

Craftsman

• personnal contact with each player - customer• long term discussions • highly reactiv to each player’s request• continuous experimentation

– from a simple tube to a complete flute

Craftsman’s tools

Craftsman’s tools

Craftsman’s tools

Craftsman’s tools

profile ?

– business and marketing • non standard, • production, servicing (repairing),

side products (flute case, ...)– mixing interest for music,

mechanical construcion, productions tools, acoustics

– well suited to modern economicenvironment ?

acoustics and flute-making

scientificknowledge isat basic level

attempt of a discussion between a makers and an acousticians ...

handcrafted flutes

are at highest level

- vocabulary andconcepts

- understandingphysical principles

acoustics and flute-making• quarter-tone flute :

– « super Boehm »

– acoustical approach

Eva Kingma

Roosen, LAUM, Ircam

modern transverse flute family

PiccoloE flat flute

Standard C-flute

Alto G

Bass C

Standard C-fluteAll otherflutes

analysis of blowing parameters

perspectives...• what future for flute-making ?

– instrument technically ok, – development of the family (repertoire and playing)

• what future for small size workshop ? – education (traditionnal apprenticeship / school)?– loss of know-how in large scale industrial productions– small structures are still important for innovation

Photo JC Déhan