Table Of ContentThe Flute Book
Oxford Musical Instrument Series
Nancy Toff, General Editor
The Flute Book, Third Edition
Nancy Toff
Forthcoming
The Clarinet Book
Michael Webster
The Flute Book
a complete guide for
students and performers
Third Edition
Nancy Toff
1
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Toff, Nancy.
The flute book : a complete guide for students and performers /
Nancy Toff. — Third edition.
pages cm. — (The Oxford musical instrument series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-19-537307-3 (hardcover) — ISBN 978-0-19-537308-0 (pbk.)
1. Flute. 2. Flute music — History and criticism.
3. Flute music — Bibliography. I. Title.
ML935.T65 2012
788.3—dc23
2012013157
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
To my parents
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contents
About the Companion Website xi
Figures xii
Plates xiii
Terminology Used in This Book xiv
Preface xvii
Acknowledgments xix
The Instrument
1. The Flute Today 3
What Is a Flute? • Manufacturing: The State of the Art
2. How to Choose An Instrument 15
To Rent or to Buy • Setting Priorities • Materials • Open or Closed Holes
• C or B Footjoint • Mechanical Options • Testing an Instrument
3. Care and Maintenance of the Flute 31
Preventive Maintenance: Assembling the Instrument • Daily Cleaning • Storage
• Polishing • Replating • Lubrication • The Headjoint Cork • Mechanical Problems
4. A Brief History of the Flute 41
Old-System Flutes • The Boehm Flute • Other Nineteenth-Century Flutes
• Minor Modifications to the Boehm System
5. The Flute Family 61
The Piccolo • The Alto Flute • The Bass Flute
• The Contr’alto, Contrabass, and Subcontrabass Flutes • The Flute Choir
Performance
6. Breathing 84
Posture • Inhalation • Suspension • Exhalation • The Diaphragm • Exercises
• Breathing and Phrasing • Circular Breathing
7. Tone 92
The Acoustical Basis • Tone Production • Focus and Projection
• Homogeneity of Sound • Interpretation through Tone Development
• Intonation • National Styles of Flute Playing
8. Vibrato 108
What Is Vibrato? • The History of Vibrato • The Uses of Vibrato
9. Articulation 117
The Bowing Analogy • Single-Tonguing • Double-Tonguing • Triple-Tonguing
• Flutter-Tonguing • Tongueless Attack • Legato • Note Endings • Practice
10. Technique 125
Position • Practice • Fingering • Harmonics • The BH Thumb Key
• Three Fingering Tricks
11. Style 140
Virtuosity and Interpretation • The Theoretical Background: Basic
Musicianship • Analysis • Phrasing • Performance Practice
• The Early Music Movement and Questions of Authenticity
12. Performance 158
Opportunities for Performance • Planning a Recital Program
• Choosing a Recital Hall • The Printed Program • Publicity
• Preparation and Rehearsal • Stage Protocol • The Entrance
• Playing the Program • Memorization • Breaks between Pieces • Encores
13. Recordings 175
Building a Recording Collection • How to Listen • Playing Along
• Making Your Own Recordings
The Music
14. The Baroque Era 183
Flute versus Recorder • Musical Forms • France • Italy • England • Germany
15. The Classic Era 211
Musical Forms • Paris • Germany • Spain • England • Vienna
16. The Romantic Era 235
Music by Nonflutists • Music by Flutists
17. The Modern Era 248
France • Great Britain • Elsewhere in Western Europe • Eastern Europe
• The United States • The Avant-Garde • The Flute and Electronics
Repertoire Catalog
Introduction 277
A. The Baroque Era 281
B. The Classic Era 327
C. The Romantic Era 361
D. The Modern Era 383
E. Study Materials 449
Appendices
A. Fingering Chart for the Boehm Flute 461
B. Flute Manufacturers 468
C. Repair Shops 476
D. Sources for Instruments and Accessories 480
E. Sources for Music and Books 483
F. Journals, Societies, and Service Organizations 487
G. Flute Clubs and Societies 491
Notes 497
Selected Bibliography 507
Index 521