An interdisciplinary study of the 1832 Boehm flute: history, geometry and acoustics

In 1832, flute-maker Theobald Boehm launches a brand new flute after conducting a series of acoustical experiments. The result was a flute with a conical bore, larger holes and a revolutionary key-system borrowing the best elements from different contemporary flute-makers. Despite its short life-span – by 1848 Boehm had already invented the modern flute with a cylindrical bore – and much rivalry from other manufacturers, this transition flute was built by many renowned makers until the first decades of the 20th century. This article studies several transition flutes from France, where the instrument gained significant popularity. Geometry profiles and impedance measurements unveil part of the identity of the instrument along with the challenges they impose on a skilled flautist. We will place the tuning and inharmonicity profiles of the instruments in their historical context, highlighting how the changes in manufacture initiated a revival of the instrument.