Starting Out On The Baroque Flute
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Here at All Flutes Plus, we get a lot of customers asking whether the baroque flute (or traverso) might be for them and about the options that we offer here. This article, written by Joe, recounts his journey to discovering the instrument, explores the different types of traversos and explains the options we have on offer here.
Having grown up in a musical household, classical music has always been a huge part of my life. Unlike many other unsuspecting seven-year-olds, I would enjoy listening to the music of Haydn whilst doing my chores. Only was it when I went to see a performance of the complete Bach orchestral suites performed by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment aged 11 did I discover the wonders of the baroque flute, interpreted exceptionally by the traverso legend, Lisa Beznosiuk. From that moment, I knew that my love was the music of the Baroque.
It now gets brought up at every family gathering that during lockdown, I sold all my childhood Lego on eBay to purchase my first baroque flute, crafted by the esteemed Robert Bigio and the rest was history! I then continued to play around with what this instrument was capable of, of course having learnt a whole new fingering system which felt most foreign for the first few months! Liz Walker’s book, “Baroque Flute Studies” was where I started, helping me to understand that every key had its own colour and guided me through specific challenges such as trills, finger combinations and articulation with detailed studies and related orchestral excerpts.
I then started studying at the Royal Academy of Music in 2024 and started to have traverso lessons from my inspiration at day one, Lisa. I now play on a copy of a Palanca traverso in grenadilla by Martin Wenner, the choice of many professional players today. My advice to anyone considering the baroque flute would be to go for it and explore what this beautiful instrument can do.
There are a few things to consider when taking up the instrument, the first being that the technique is slightly different in that it requires a slower airspeed, not unalike to if one is playing the alto flute. Lisa still tells me not to throw so much air down it! The other would be your instrument’s pitch. There are instruments at A=440, (standard pitch in the UK that our instruments are tuned to) and A=415, the standardised pitch used by historical performers. Traversos are available at other pitches such as low baroque pitch (A=392) but are less common in this country. Instruments at A=440 might be a good option for beginners as you can play them with other standard orchestral instruments and, of course, the piano. Advancing players might thing about instruments at A=415 so they can play with other instruments at this pitch, matching the music of the baroque period.
Both plastic and wooden baroque flutes offer distinct advantages for players. Plastic baroque flutes are generally more affordable, durable, and resistant to changes in temperature and humidity, making them ideal for beginners, students, and outdoor performances. Wooden instruments on the other hand, are known for their warm, rich, and authentic tone, closely resembling the sound of historical instruments used during the baroque period. Many experienced musicians prefer wooden flutes because of their greater tonal complexity, expressive qualities, and traditional appearance. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to start your baroque flute adventure.
Baroque Flutes for beginners
Baroque Flutes for the advancing player
Martin Wenner Reproduction Baroque Flute After Palanca
Pre-owned Folkers & Powell Denner Baroque Flute, A=415, C7989
Pre-owned Martin Wenner J.Hotteterre Grenadilla Wood Baroque Flute, A=392 Pitch, C7970