The C16th flute
I was early alerted to the
importance of the flute of the 16th century even as the modern world is
swamped with disproportionate numbers of recorders and recorder makers. I started playing renaissance flute in
the 1970's when there was less choice of makers even compared to now.
A selection of
modern copies of 16th century flutes.
At top, right is set of 3: Bass, Tenor, Alto a fifth apart in pitch.
Relating them to modern pitch A=440, the bass has bottom note f, the
tenor c and the alto g. They could also be thought of having bottom
notes g-d-a at a pitch standard a whole tone lower. The set of 4 below
are alto-a, 2 tenors-d, bass-g at A=440. The large bass especially needs long limber arms and flexible hands and neck to play.
In the UK about the only makers of note were Graham Lyndon Jones and Barbara Stanley. Hence I acquired over time several of their instruments.
Size
|
Date
|
tonality
|
Wood
|
tenor
|
1978
|
d
|
pau
|
tenor
|
1979
|
c
|
cherry
|
alto
|
1979
|
g
|
cherry
|
bass
|
1979
|
f
|
pear
|
tenor
|
2000's
|
d
|
pear
|
alto
|
2000's
|
a
|
pear
|
bass
|
1979
|
g
|
maple?
|