_This is a very simplified version of the history of the flute in Western music:
The earliest flutes we know any details of were in the Renaissance and were simple cylindrical wooden tubes with a small embouchure hole and six fingerholes and no keys. They were made of one piece of wood. The bore was the same diameter along its length - in other words a cylinder. They were made in different sizes which could be played together as a consort, much as recorders are . They could also be played with other instruments or accompany a singer.
A new type of flute was developed at the end of the 17th century - the bore near the embouchure hole was still a cylinder but narrowed like a cone towards the bottom of the flute. An extra hole was added at the foot of the flute, covered by a key. At first this flute was made up of three joints but later on it was made up of four joints. This type of flute could play with greater flexibility and range and in more keys and is much better suited for a showier style of playing. It is commonly known as a baroque flute and sometimes as a traverso. The first solo music written specifically for a flute was composed for this type of flute. Throughout the 18th century this was the most common flute. At the end of this period, more keys were added but the bore stayed basically the same conical shape.
In the 1840s the modern (Boehm) flute was developed with its larger embouchure hole, its cylindrical bore and with its much larger fingerholes covered by a new system of keys. Eventually the old conical flute was no longer made or played except as a "folk" instrument and the Boehm flute became the standard instrument. Many of the sound qualities of the conical flute were lost in the process and this is why, following the early music revival, many players today prefer to use copies of the old conical flute when they play music written for it. In the same way, music of the Renaissance sounds better played on copies of Renaissance flutes.
So, what is an early flute? Simply: any flute built like those historical flutes which were in use before the Boehm flute took over.
The earliest flutes we know any details of were in the Renaissance and were simple cylindrical wooden tubes with a small embouchure hole and six fingerholes and no keys. They were made of one piece of wood. The bore was the same diameter along its length - in other words a cylinder. They were made in different sizes which could be played together as a consort, much as recorders are . They could also be played with other instruments or accompany a singer.
A new type of flute was developed at the end of the 17th century - the bore near the embouchure hole was still a cylinder but narrowed like a cone towards the bottom of the flute. An extra hole was added at the foot of the flute, covered by a key. At first this flute was made up of three joints but later on it was made up of four joints. This type of flute could play with greater flexibility and range and in more keys and is much better suited for a showier style of playing. It is commonly known as a baroque flute and sometimes as a traverso. The first solo music written specifically for a flute was composed for this type of flute. Throughout the 18th century this was the most common flute. At the end of this period, more keys were added but the bore stayed basically the same conical shape.
In the 1840s the modern (Boehm) flute was developed with its larger embouchure hole, its cylindrical bore and with its much larger fingerholes covered by a new system of keys. Eventually the old conical flute was no longer made or played except as a "folk" instrument and the Boehm flute became the standard instrument. Many of the sound qualities of the conical flute were lost in the process and this is why, following the early music revival, many players today prefer to use copies of the old conical flute when they play music written for it. In the same way, music of the Renaissance sounds better played on copies of Renaissance flutes.
So, what is an early flute? Simply: any flute built like those historical flutes which were in use before the Boehm flute took over.
