Theobald Boehm and the Development of Woodwind Key Systems Micaela Baranello Physics 22 March 16, 2005 Micaela Baranello Physics 22 March 16, 2005

Early Woodwinds  No keys, only holes  Could not play chromatics well in tune  Often came in many different lengths to enable other keys (mostly clarinets)  Similar to modern recorder hole system  No keys, only holes  Could not play chromatics well in tune  Often came in many different lengths to enable other keys (mostly clarinets)  Similar to modern recorder hole system

Some Development  Two or three keys were sometimes added  Fingers could not reach all the holes  Two or three keys were sometimes added  Fingers could not reach all the holes

Theobald Boehm  Goldsmith and flutist  Invented ring key system  1830s-1860s  Developments applied to clarinet by Lefebre and Buffet  Trill keys  Goldsmith and flutist  Invented ring key system  1830s-1860s  Developments applied to clarinet by Lefebre and Buffet  Trill keys

The Boehm Flute  Also changed material- wood to metal  Developed bore  More brilliant, loud sound  This flute dates from 1847  Not immediately adopted by flutists  Also changed material- wood to metal  Developed bore  More brilliant, loud sound  This flute dates from 1847  Not immediately adopted by flutists

Development of the Clarinet  Iwan Muller (1808, Estonia)  Addition of extra keys to facilitate trills, improve intonation  Development by Boehm and Louis- Auguste Buffet  Iwan Muller (1808, Estonia)  Addition of extra keys to facilitate trills, improve intonation  Development by Boehm and Louis- Auguste Buffet

The Boehm System  Ring keys  Chromatic keys  Trill keys  Cross-fingerings/ rollers  Other systems: Mazzeo, Oehler  Ring keys  Chromatic keys  Trill keys  Cross-fingerings/ rollers  Other systems: Mazzeo, Oehler