Origin
After the voice, the flute is one of the oldest instruments in existence. In the Stone Age people made whistles and flutes out of animal bones. The following photo illustrates one of the oldest bone flutes found in Germany. It was made from the radius of a swan and dates to 36,000 B.C.
The flute is an instrument charged with mysticism and spirituality; fame obtained from its historical function within the different religious cultures of the world. The native sound of flutes from different cultures and the state of well-being I felt when listening to them was an attraction that awoke in me the interest to play the transverse flute.
The transverse flute
There is a wide variety of types of flutes, but we will focus on the transverse flute since it is the instrument that I play regularly.
The transverse flute is a woodwind musical instrument, along with the clarinet, oboe and bassoon families. Today they are made of metal and even silver, nickel, titanium, platinum and gold.
The transverse flute and its family includes, in order from high to low, the piccolo or piccolo, the C flute, the G flute, the bass flute, and the contrabass flute. Of all the flutes, the bass and contrabass flute are rarely heard in the symphonic repertoire of classical music. It is possible to listen to them in the chamber music repertoire and in flute orchestras or choirs.
Evolution and Characteristics
The flute had a boom around the 18th century, when distinguished composers began to include it in the symphonic and operatic repertoire given the color and texture it brought to the ensemble. The flute went through a process of evolution and improvements at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. Quantz and Hotteterre contributed with improvements to the mechanism, later Ribock, Tromlitz and Potter sought to improve the flute to achieve a balanced tuning and homogeneity of sound in the different octaves, changes that promoted the inventiveness of the inventor, musician and composer in the mid-nineteenth century. Theobald Böhm who created the modern transverse (transverse) flute which is called the Böhm flute. This flute has not been altered with considerable changes to this day.
The sound of the flute varies depending on the material with which it is made. Before they were made of wood, but more than a century ago they were usually made of metal, such as silver, gold, titanium and platinum or a combination of 2 metals such as: silver/gold, silver/platinum and various types of bathrooms. We can find nickel flutes with silver plating, silver flutes with gold plating, etc… Personally I chose a silver flute with a gold inside mouthpiece as I like the balance of bright sound offered by silver with a little of the darker sound of gold.
Musical genres
The transverse flute is used in the interpretation of Chamber Music and Orchestra repertoire; however, over time it has been incorporated into different musical styles such as Afro-Caribbean genres such as charanga and salsa, and other styles such as jazz, Latin jazz, Brazilian music, tango, Celtic music, flamenco, rock, pop, relaxation music, hip hop, typical music, bolero among others.
The flute floods brings energy, joy, partying, and mischief to Afro-Caribbean and Latin music genres such as charanga, son montuno, guajira-son, mambo, danzón, cha cha cha, salsa, rumba, and guaracha.
In classical music, the flute dresses with elegance, inspiration and virtuosity. And in relaxation or religious music it is sublime and consoling.
The flute is very well received in a variety of genres. Its versatility has led me to explore, study and play my instrument in a wide range of different musical genres. His sound is acclaimed and appreciated by many listeners in the world.
Finally, I share with you my motto:
“To blow winds of love; That’s why I was born”
Viviana M. Díaz Ríos
