Flutemakers Bibliography
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The Physics of Woodwinds.
Scientific American (October 1960).
Backus, John
Benade, Arthur A. Fundamentals of Musical Acoustics.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1976. 608 pp. 6-1/8" x 8-1/4". ISBN: 0-486-26484-X.
Benade, Arthur A. Horns, Strings & Harmony.
New York: Anchor Doubleday & Co. Inc., 1960. 271 pp. 5-3/8" x 8-1/2"; index. ISBN: 0-486-27331-8.
1. Acoustics made delightfully readable. Theory of wave motion and the phenomenon of harmony. Benade explains the operating mechanism at work in three major groups of instruments: woodwinds, brasses and strings. Calculations and practical illustrations in Chapter X, "Homemade Wind Instruments."
Benade, Arthur A.
A 1977 collection of course notes from Benade's class "Acoustical
evolution of wind instruments"
http://ccrma.stanford.edu/marl/Benade/documents/Benade-Physics323-1977.pdf
Fletcher, Neville & Rossing, Tom The Physics of Musical Instruments.
New York: Springer, 1998. 2nd ed., 756p., 485 illus.
1. The leading book on musical acoustics; assumes university level maths. Neville Fletcher is a flute player, nonetheless only a few pages are devoted to the instrument.
Forster, Cris
Flute Tone Holes:
http://www.chrysalis-foundation.org/flute_tone_holes.htm
1. Hard to characterise at first sight, seems to rely heavily on Nederveen, but may be a convenient summary.
2. The author makes very heavy work of the simple mathematics so that it comes out much more complicated than necessary and would tend to put the reader off. He uses far too many symbols and far too many numerical values. Most of what is written seems OK, but I noticed some misunderstandings and errors in relation to acoustic impedance.
Nederveen, C.J.
Boehm, Theobald The Flute and Flute Playing in Acoustical, Technical, and Artistic Aspects.
New York: Dover Publications, 1964. xxix + 197 pp. 5-3/8" x 8"; index. ISBN: 0-486-21259-9.
A translation from the German, Die Flöte und das Flötenspiel, first published in 1871. This classic work explains the development of the revolutionary concert flute as first patented in 1847. As writer and inventor, Mr. Boehm explains his process and application. Acoustics, calculations, construction, the key mechanism, fingering charts, maintenance, illustrations. The bass flute in G. Playing technique, musical interpretation, biographical notes.
Title: An essay on the construction of flutes giving a history & description of the most recent improvements with an explanation of the principles of acoustics applicable to the manufacture of wind instruments.
Bookseller: AstroLogos Books
Bookseller Book ID: 74421A598624376
Price: US$ 36.00
Book Description: BRAND NEW SOFTCOVER - Print-to-order B&W REPRINT of original book published: London Rudall Carte & Co. 1882. 84 Pages Reprinted from microfilm of original text on acid-free archival quality paper - SOFTCOVER Charts photographs & graphics may reproduce less than perfectly & may be reduced to fit pages. SPECIAL ORDER Allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery. No Refund or Exchange unless not as described.
Shipping Quoted*: US$ 6.00
Total Order Amount: US$ 42.00
Cooper, Albert The Flute.
London: ?, 1984. Revised ed., 42p., illustrations.
The man who transformed the modern orchestral flute in his own words. Essential but, unfortunately, distinctly rare. This is the second edition (yellow cover) with additional material compared to the first edition (blue cover).
Hopkin, Bart Air Columns and Tone Holes | Principles for Wind Instrument Design.
Nicasio, California: Experimental Musical Instruments, 1999. Revised ed., 42p., illustrations.
A well written and eminently readable look at both the acoustics and the practicalities of construction of all winds. Comprehensive and eclectic.
Hopkin, Bart Musical Instrument Design | Practical Information for Instrument Making.
Tucson, Arizona: See Sharp Press, 1996. 181 p., illustrations, bibliography, index. ISBN: 1-884365-08-6
Hopkin covers both the simple generalities of acoustics and the specifics of idiophones, aerophones, membranophones, and chordophones (the main divisions of musical instruments). Well written and easily understood.
Joof, Laura Beha Recorder Voicing and Tuning, and Use of the Tuning Machine.
The American Recorder (November 1985): 155–159.
How to tune and voice an instrument now that you've made it (applies to flutes, too). Very straightforward.
Baines, Anthony Woodwind Instruments and Their History.
New York: Dover, 1991 [reprint].
Wonderful resource for all woodwind instruments, not just flute. The keywork diagrams are very useful if you ever come across a Rudall Carte Radcliff or 1867 model in need of repair.
Bate, Philip
Bigio, Robert
Readings in the History of the Flute : monographs, essays, reviews, letters and advertisements from nineteenth-century London, selected and edited with an introduction by Robert Bigio.
Published by (and available from) Tony Bingham, www.oldmusicalinstruments.co.uk or from robert@bigio.com.
Carte, Richard
Sketch of the Successive Improvements in the Flute.
London: Rudall, Rose, & Co., 1851. 46 p.
Web reprint, with observations by Terry McGee:
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/CarteSketch.htm
"With a statement of the principles upon which flutes are
constructed; and a comparison between the relative merits of the ordinary
flute; the flute of Boehm; and Carte's two new patent flutes."
Leonardo DeLorenzo
Holtzapffel, Charles & John Jacob Turning and Mechanical Manipulation.
vol. 1 Material, Their Choice, Preparation and Various Modes of Working Them. 480 p., 300 illus.
vol. 2 Construction, Action and Application of Cutting Tools. 595 p., 700 illus.
vol. 3 Abrasive and Other Processes Not Accomplished With Cutting Tools. 816 p., 430 illus.
vol. 4 Hand or Simple Turning. 592 p., 793 illus.
vol. 5 The Principles & Practice of Ornamental or Complex Turning/ 656 p., illus.
London: 1843-84 [Reprinted variously].
Presently all available (with excellent descriptions for each volume) from Astragal Press.
This is an essential reference work for anyone interested in historical manufacturing processes. However, it has also become a standard reference for model engineers and anyone else who wants to make precision items with minimum cash outlay. The books detail manufacturing processes that are not as quick and efficient as modern methods, but can produce excellent results. The methods often require manual dexterity rather than precision equipment, as many of the methods use hand tools. Although many of these hand tools are not available nowadays an approximation can usually be made from the excellent illustrations in the books. These books were written at a time of great change in manufacturing methods, and Holtzapffel lists processes that disappeared shortly after. If you consult a text from forty or fifty years later then the manufacturing practice is the same as modern machining practice except for details (such as computer control).
Powell, Ardal
The Flute. 2002, Yale University Press, New Haven and London,
As much about the music and times as the instrument itself. Fairly heavy presentation, but less influenced by Rockstro than most other modern presentations.
Rockstro, Richard Shepherd
"A Treatise on the Construction, the History and the Practice of the Flute", Copyrights 1890, 1928, 1967; 1967 edition printed by Musica Rara
1. An invaluable source tragically spoiled by the author's obsessive antagonism towards some of the important makers and writers of the period he covers, notably Boehm, Siccama, Clinton and Welch, but conceivably others. Also unreliable on the issue of pitch, again due to allowing personal prejudice to alter fact.
Toff, Nancy
The Development of the Modern Flute
A broad history of the flute, convenient as it shows better images than Bate and includes schematics of the keying systems. Includes a lot of minor errors, but these are not enough to diminish its value, particularly as an introduction to the general topic.
Waterhouse, William
The New Langwill Index.
London: Tony Bingham 1993. xxxvii + 518 pp. 7" x 10"; glossary, list of collections, bibliography, index. ISBN: 0-946113-04-01.
A Dictionary of Musical Wind-Instrument Makers and Inventors. It
lists European and American makers c.17th–20th C. Makers' marks,
workplaces, biography, types of instruments made, patents, methods
and principles.
Welch, Christopher
Holtzapffel, Charles & John Jacob Turning and Mechanical Manipulation.
See Historical Interest.
Barclay, Robert L.
1. It describes techniques that might have translated over to silver flute making in the early days, and once more could easily still do so. For instance, Boehm may have employed the same techniques of the 17th and 18 century trumpet maker in making silver flute tubes (both cylindrical and conical sections). Then again, he may not have, but still the methods shown in this book could easily be made use of in fabricating cylindrical and conical sections of tube for flutes. For lack of other extensive books covering the fabrication techniques of silver flute makers in making metal tubes (conical or otherwise), it seems to be a good resource.
Repair
[U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory.] Wood Handbook--Wood as an Engineering Material.
Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory., 1999. 463 p.
1. An amazing reference, with structural specifications for North American woods.
Available online at: http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr113/fplgtr113.htm
Holtzapffel, Charles & John Jacob Turning and Mechanical Manipulation.
See Historical Interest.
Raffan, Richard Turning Wood with Richard Raffan.
Newtown, Connecticut: Taunton Books, 2001. Revised ed., 208 p., photos, illustrations.
1. One of the best tutorials for the wood lathe. Well laid out and comprehensive, written by a master.
Kottick, Edward L. Tone and Intonation on the Recorder.
New York: McGinnis & Marx, 1974. 28p., photos, illustrations.
1. An excellent, well illustrated, comprehensive tutorial.
Technical drawings of baroque and some 19th century flutes, and recorders
J.F.Beaudin, 312 Richford road, Frelighsburg, P,Québec, Canada, J0J1C0.
Email: jfbeaudin@hotmail.com Phone: 450-298-5161
McGee, Terry
Wooden Flute Plans.
Malua Bay, Australia: McGee Flutes, 2004. 9 p.
1.
A comprehensive 9-page package including all the information
needed to replicate a Boosey Pratten's Perfected 8-key flute, including
all dimensions, multiple images and a tuning chart for the original.
For sale by the author: http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Plans.htm
Robinson, Trevor The Amateur Wind Instrument Maker.
University of Massachusetts Press: Boston, 1980. Revised ed., 116p., extensive illus., bibliography.
1. One of the venerable books on the subject, this one tends to elicit strong emotions among makers. Robinson's plans are notoriously sloppy, but cover most period instruments. Where else can you find plans for a racket?
Shephard, Mark Simple Flutes : A Guide to Flute Making and Playing
Shepard Publications, 2002
How to make simple flutes from readily available materials.
An excerpt The Plumbers Pipe provides enough information to
make your first flute at
http://www.markshep.com/flute/Pipe.html
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