Exploring the affordances of the (multi keyed) wooden transverse flute pt.1: Perceiving history

The wooden transverse flute that is in focus in this PhD­project was originally a further development of the transverse flute of the baroque era. It was the favoured instrument in Western art music during much of the 19th century. However during the late 19th century the Boehm­system flute became the instrument of choice among most practitioners of Western art music. Even though I have been well informed about the historical facts, I have intuitively perceived the transverse flute as a contemporary musical instrument, in constant change to accommodate the visions of musicians and makers. The first part of the autoethnographical studies challenges this by examining the roots of the design of the instrument through musical practice. This may lead to an altered embodied understanding of the instrument, which possibly also will affect the musical outcome.