The Evolution of Flute Articulation from the Baroque to the Present: Changes in Flute Construction and Design and Design and Articulation Techniques for the Playing of the Instrument
The technique of articulation is not static and it is essential to the art of flute playing. It is currently and always evolving. This entire nature of performance practice has widened and become more sophisticated. The ambiguity of articulation has now been replaced by a highly managed approach by composers. In the Baroque the choice of how to articulate a certain passage in flute music was left up to the performer’s discretion. Modern professional flute players are expected by flute teachers and called upon by major orchestras and music conservatories around the world to be able to play all extended articulation techniques. These extended techniques in articulation include singing while playing, speaking while playing, harmonics, and whistle tones. It is difficult to see visually how the tongue is used while playing the flute and this makes it hard to understand at times the importance of the tongue and articulation in flute playing. Air does not always move freely through the body of the flute. It is manipulated and dealt with through articulation. The evolution of flute articulation is indispensable to the modern flutist because the tongue is the essence of flute playing.
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