Timeline of the flute evolution (important dates)
-The EARLY FLUTE-
1529: Alto, Tenor & Bass Flutes Appear
1670: 3-PieCED 1-keyed flutes appear in jean
Baptiste lully's orchestra in france
1806-1848: claude Laurent makes 3, 4 and 7 keyed flutes
1821: rudall and rose make 8 keyed flutes
-THE BOEHM ERA-
1810: Boehm builds his first model
1829: Boehm develops a Completely new
fingering system
1830: Boehm's new model is complete
1831: Boehm presents his new model in France & London performances
1832: Boehm gets inspired by Charles Nicholson and created open holed flutes
1834: Boehm flutes gain popularity with German and French flutists
1847: Boehm flutes are imported to new York city
1877: Boehm perfects modern flute
-Post Boehm era-
1972: alexander Murray and albert cooper bring out production of FLUTES AND PICCOLOS.
EXTRA INFO
The Flute was made in 37,000 BC. The Flute has been around since pre-historic times. Some of the first flutes were made out of mammoth ivory (shown above in picture) This Mammoth-Ivory Flute is between 42,000 and 43,000 Years old. The Flute has not been created by one person but many. The person that improved the flute greatly is Theobald Boehm who created a new key system that is used today on standard regular flutes. He created this new key system between 1831 & 1847.
Before Theobald made the current key system, There were only 8 Keys instead of todays 18 keys that can be pressed also, The keys that you would normally now press down, we closed instead of open. The keys itself were open like a clarinet, not closed until Theobald had made the new keys. Today, Closed keys are of course sold & Open holed flutes are as well. (see pictures below)
Left: Mammoth Ivory Flute. Middle: Closed hole flute. Right: Open Hole flute