~Milhouse flute in ‘D’ with single key (A=440 Hz)~
This instrument is based on a 4 key boxwood flute by William Milhouse who was a high class late 18th century London maker. I only fit the key on the foot joint as it is intended for playing folk music. However, although not strictly speaking a baroque flute, some have bought it for baroque music and found the cross-fingered notes satisfactory.
Made in boxwood with brass rings and key, it is a beautiful flute to look at. The tone matches its looks although it is more subtle (and not as powerful as the slide-head flute) because the holes are smaller. It is supplied with cleaning rod and optional wooden case.
~Flute D’Amour by Stanesby Junior (Bb=415Hz)~
This romantic instrument is a copy of a flute by Thomas Stanesby Jnr. (c.1725) in the Bate collection at Oxford, England. It is a baroque flute with a single key on the foot joint. It’s a flute on a grand scale being 750mm long, the stretch for the fingers is not excessive however.
The flute d’Amour is pitched in Bb. Coincidentally this corresponds to being pitched in A at A = 440hz, giving the instrument a versatility for playing either baroque or folk music. However it is particularly well suited for playing with the clarsach due to its deep, mellow tone.
The flute is made in boxwood. The original flute had ivory rings, however as pictured I have substituted brass rings with imitation ivory ends. It is supplied with cleaning rod and velvet lined wooden case.
~Baroque Flute in ‘D’ by Paul Villars (A=415Hz)~
The first major revolution in flute design began in the late 17th century in France, the flute became fully chromatic, using one key and cross-fingerings. This basic design remained unchanged for the next 180 years.
This one-keyed or "Baroque" flute is a replica of one made by Paul Villars in Paris. The original of this instrument dates from c. 1740 and is in the Edinburgh University Collection, Scotland.
It is a speciality instrument, suitable for playing baroque music at the lower pitch used at that time, or for playing with other period instruments pitched at A = 415hz.
The flute is made in boxwood with imitation ivory rings and brass key (on the foot joint). It is supplied with cleaning rod and a velvet lined wooden case.