The flutes recognized at Michael Praetorius`s Syntagma Musicum anticipated the

German Flute in two respects: * the alto flute is pitched in D major and the bass
flute was divided into two pieces to regulate tuning within an ensemble.
THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES

The evolution of the Baroque period required increased instrumental

flexibility in order to express the great depth of human feelings. The recorder
was substituted by the transverse flute in view of its more brilliant tone and
third octave range
The principal figure was Jacques Hotteterre, whose major contribution was
the one keyed flute.
o The flute was based on the D major scale
o It was divided into three sections: head, the middle (with six finger
holes) and the foot (with the single key)
o He replaced the cylindrical model with a conical bore
o He reduced the size of the finger holes
Typically constructed of a hardwood such as boxwood, ebony or cocuswood.
o Quantz: Boxwood is more durable but ebony has clearer and more
beautiful tone
o Ivory was also popular though its tone tended to be weaker
The flute had two octaves and some notes d1-d3+g3
In 1722 some attempts were made to extend the lower range to c1. Quantz
judged the added length to be detrimental to tone and intonation
The typical flute was stopped at its head by a cork plug that could be
pushed and pulled by the performer.
Eighteenth century: Scarllatti: I cannot endure wind instrument players, they
all blow out of tune. Cherubini: The only thing worse than one flute is two
Before 1760, several London makers began adding three additional keys

o
o

New freedom of tonality and modulation is evident in the sonatas of

Haydn
It didnt have great acceptance: players were skeptical of the efficiency
and reliability of the keys. Closure was far from hermetic and sluggish
in action. Another objection was the necessary change in fingering.

In 1774 they resuscitated the idea of the C footjoint. The flute was
lengthened by two inches. Two holes in the footjoint were controlled by
open keys operated by the fourth finger.
o Haydns orchestral use of the flute reflects the transition occurring in
orchestral sound> The flute was rarely present in his early
symphonies. It began to appear only after 1780. He was conservative
using largely the middle register. His work was indicative of the flutes
coming role as an integral member of the orchestra.
o Mozarts late symphonies had the flute as an important constituent of
the instrumental polyphony. His concerto in G includes frequent G3 in
rapid scalar passages. He also uses C1 and C#1 in the Concerto in C
for fl and harp.
Eighteenth century organological achievement culminated in the eight-keyed
flute referred to as German, ordinary, old system, simple system,
Meyer system flute.
Dr. JH Ribock began to promote a closed key for C2. It was operated by the
first finger of the right hand
Tromlitz introduced a second F key that allowed to slur from f to d without
involuntarily sounding a grace note E between them.
o