Sydney Recording Studios: History of the Flute Part 2

Sydney Recording Studios:  Flute design flourished through the first half of the 19th century, with significant design variations found in Austria, England, America, France and Germany, among others. Theobald Boehm of Bavaria began to attract attention with a key design that used a system of complex interlocked rods to allow accurate, fast fingering in a more natural hand position.

Sydney Recording Studios: Vienna Style of Flute

Over time the Vienna style of flute, with its conical bore and range down to G on the violin, became very popular. Its design was merged once again with the traditional keyed flute around the year 1850 to become an instrument known as the “Meyer” flute, which was quickly adopted across America and Europe.

Sydney Recording Studios: Boehm Style Flute

However, 20 years later the superior technology of the Boehm style flute put it well on the way to becoming the preeminent instrument used by both professional and amateur musicians going forward.
Today’s flute is based on Boehm’s innovations, with modifications that vary somewhat depending on the instrument maker. One major change of note made since that time is a rescaling of the flute to A=440Hz during the 1960s by an English flute maker named Albert Cooper. This standard pitch is now the worldwide standard and the flute has adapted as well.

Sydney Recording Studios: Famous Flute Players

The flute is primarily thought of as a classical and jazz instrument, but it has made some notable appearances in pop music as well.
Famous classical flute players include James Galway, Jeanne Baxtresser, Shri Hariprasad Chaurasia, Taffanel, Gaubert, Marcel Moyse, Michel Debost, Joseph Mariano, Mimi Stillman, Alexa Still and Marian Gedigian.
Well known jazz flute players include Herbie Mann, Eric Dolphy, Jeremy Steig, Herbie Mann, Hubert Laws, James Moody, Frank Wess, Brian Jackson, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Bobbi Humphries.In rock and pop music, Ian Anderson and Greg Patillo are noted names.

Sydney Recording Studios Flute