Flute In The 18th Century

An extra hole was added to the instrument as well (the first key), allowing the musician to play an E-flat, therefore making all chromatic notes viable to the flutist [2].

Many new developments were introduced to the design of the flute in the 18th century. These developments were met with an increase in desire to learn how to play the flute, as flute methods books were sold to beginners for the first time in 1710 [2]. Extra joints were added early on in the century, often with differing lengths. By 1720, the body of the flute was divided into two different parts (called corps de recharge). This differentiation allowed musicians to change the pitch of the flute so that, given different orchestras, they could (almost) always play in tune. By
During this era, the entire design of the flute was altered; new keys were added, techniques developed, and models tested. The first breakthrough adaptation to the flute during the 1800’s was the addition of open holes, where finger pads cover the holes. These were an invention of Rev. Frederick Nolan in 1808. Nolan also connected the keys together, making the composition of more complex pieces feasible. These advancements were coupled with metal flute bores, created in London by George Miller [2]. The popularity of flutes in a concert setting rose, while their use in the military was no longer necessary; around 1814, almost all flutes in European militaries were replaced with bugles. Although they are nearly extinct in the military, Switzerland’s military, North American war reenactors , and the Pope’s Swiss guard at the Vatican have all reimplemented the use of flutes in their practices [4]. Some of the greatest changes in the development of the flute came about due to Theobald Boehm. Boehm was born in Munich in 1794, and trained as a jeweler and goldsmith at a young age. He developed a great affinity towards music, and by the time he was 24 years old, he was a professional goldsmith, flute maker, and professional flutist in Munich’s orchestra of the royal court. Boehm created his own fingering system for the flute, using rods that connected the keys together. He also created intricate, elaborate machines for making pillars, posts, flat gold springs, and boring holes in flutes. Within a few years he had created a workshop so that he could manufacture instruments quickly and easily, especially the flute. From 1830 to 1831, Boehm traveled to London and Paris in order to present his adaptations to the flute in performance. While traveling, Boehm discovered Charles Nicholson during one of his performances. Nicholson was a notable flutist at the time, who had