Evolutions in flute making Jean-Yves ROOSEN flute maker, France
[email protected] 16 r Trugny 02400 Epieds
Benoît FABRE Laboratoire d’Acoustique Musicale, Paris, France
[email protected]
History of flutes during 20th century 1850
1900
Boehm Gordon ...
2000
1950
Lot, Bonneville Djalma-Julliot ...
. 1900 to 2000 poorly documented !
• technical evolutions (mecanisms, pads) • sound aesthetics evolution : consequences on flute playing and making • economic and business evolutions
technical evolutions... from Lenski & Ventzke, Moeck 1992
key systems in 1845 and 2000
... technical evolutions...
pads : replacing tissues (guts) by synthetic material ?
... technical evolutions. better making tools... ..... improving adjustment, long term stability.
sounding aesthetics :
• evolution of the blowing hole – volume, height, angles...
sounding aesthetics : • flute making adapts to evolutions in : – playing technique – musical taste Marcel Moyse, 1935 from Lenski & Ventzke, Moeck 1992
blowing holes geometry
Alain Marion, 1985
economic and business evolutions... from Lenski & Ventzke, Moeck 1992
craftsman (artisan) : solo to « n-craftsmen »
Thibouville frères, Ivry la bataille 1925
...economic and business evolutions... Development of the production :
middle-size
•
Haynes flutes (circa 1950)
...economic and business evolutions. Development of the musical education : mass production for student models
•
Jinyin, China : « This is the flute and saxophone assembly area. »
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
Craftsman’s tools – from a simple tube to a complete flute
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 economic environment ?
acoustics and flute-making attempt of a discussion between a makers and an acousticians ... handcrafted flutes are at highest level
- vocabulary and concepts
scientific knowledge is at basic level
- understanding physical principles
acoustics and flute-making • quarter-tone flute : – « super Boehm »
Eva Kingma
– acoustical approach
Roosen, LAUM, Ircam
modern transverse flute family analysis of blowing parameters
Standa rd Cflute All other flutes
Bass C
Alto G Piccolo
Standard C-flute E flat flute
perspectives... • what future for flute-making ? – instrument technically ok, – development of the family (repertoire and playing)
Photo JC Déhan
• 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
