Arranging and Orchestration Concepts !! 131Renaissance Flutes
Renaissance flutes should be used to replicate sixteenth-century Renais-
sance music. The Renaissance flute is a transverse flute and was probably
used from the late fifteenth century to the second half of the seventeenth.
Boxwood was the most common material used to make Renaissance
flutes, but some were made of various fruitwoods. Most tenor flutes were
made in one piece, and most of the bass flutes were made in two parts.
They were built in three sizes:
- The bass flute is tuned in G minor, and the range is two octaves from
GtoG. - The tenor flute is tuned in D minor; the range is two and a half
octaves from D to A. - Descant, or highest flute, is tuned in A minor; sometimes the tenor
plays this part.
Native American Flutes
Native American flutes are made in many shapes and sizes. They can be
made of cedar, redwood, or walnut. The flutes have either five or six holes
and are tuned to traditional minor scales. Study the tribes and theory of
Native American flute playing if trying to emulate a specific tribe.
Wooden Ocarinas
Wooden ocarinas are chromatically tuned flutes made out of a variety of
woods. They have an unusual oval shape.
Recorder
A recorder is held vertically and has a two-octave range. The recorder is
made in many sizes. It is difficult to vary dynamics with this instrument.
Shakuhachi Flutes of Japan
Shakuhachi flutes are traditionally made of bamboo (some modern flutes
are made of maple), are held vertically, and are built in many sizes. The
bamboo is taken from the very bottom of a bamboo tree. The traditional
tuning is in the key of D.
There are four finger holes on the front and a thumbhole on the back.
The mouthpiece is open on the top of the open pipe. The flutist can play
in a very expressive manner by using various blowing techniques and half-
hole fingering.