A Reconstruction of Mersenne's Flute

Author(s): Trevor Robinson

Reviewed work(s):
Source: The Galpin Society Journal, Vol. 26 (May, 1973), pp. 84-85
Published by: Galpin Society
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/841116 .
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TREVOR ROBINSON

A Reconstruction of Mersenne's
Flute
N his description of the Transverse Flute, Mersenne (Harmonie
universelle)
gives somewhat more detaileddimensionsthanhe does for
other wind instruments.In fact, he is describing a particularexample
called 'one of the best flutes in the world'. Although not all of the
necessary measurements are given, there seemed to be enough to
attempt a reconstruction.The missing distancesare those between the
embouchure and the first fingerhole and between the 4th and 5th
holes. Some indication of hole-diameter is given for all but the 5th
hole. With a known bore-diameter and sounding-length the pitch
for an open hole is dependent on both its distance and diameter; so
that, given one of the two, a method of successive approximations
leads to the other in order to achieve the properly tuned scale. For
example, though the distancefrom embouchure to Ist hole is missing,
the hole diameteris given as '3 lignes' (I ligne=2.25mm.), and therefore
a hole of this diameter must be located so that when only this hole is
open one gets the octave above the lowest note; and when it and all
the other holes are open, a semitone lower. In assessingthe precision
to be expected in Mersenne'sdimensions I made the assumption that
any measurementwould be + 0.5 of the unit used. Thus 3 lignes would
be taken as 2.5 to 3.5 lignes and 3 pouces as 2.5 to 3.5 pouces (I pouce=
27.omm.). One pied was taken to be measured with a precision of
+ I pouce.
The chief difficulty was over the interpretation of the interhole
distances.In descriptionsof other instruments(e.g. cornett) Mersenne
makes explicit that he measuresbetween the centres of holes; but if
this was done for the flute the holes came clearly too close together.
Even going to the .5 ligne limit of precision for hole diameters,the
+
intervals between certain notes were decidedly too small. Therefore it
had to be assumedthat for this instrumentMersennemeasuredbetween
the edges of the holes ratherthan the centres. This solved the problem
and produced the table of measurementspresentedhere. It can be seen
that in all casesthe reconstructedmeasurementsare close to the assumed
limits of precision-i.e. within I.2mm. of Mersenne'sfigures. Two of
the interhole distancesexceed this limit slightly, but they could not be
84

reducedwithoutreducingtheirhole diametersbeyondthe limit.

The decorativeturningdepictedby Mersenneis unusualfor a flute
of the Renaissanceperiod.I do not know of any museumspecimens
with such decorations.The fancyball on the lower end was perhaps
Because
intendedto imitatethe fontanelleof otherwind instruments.
of the crudenessof Mersenne's
sketchit is hardto be sureexactlywhat
was intended,but the accompanyingphotograph(P1.IX) shows my
interpretation.Mersennedoes not name the wood used for this
flutealthoughhe saysthatplum, cherry,or boxwood were
particular
used-the last most commonly.The instrumentphotographedis of
SouthAmericanboxwood. Othershavebeenmadeof cherry.
fluteis delightfulto hearandenjoyable
Musically,the reconstructed
to play, especiallyin smallensemblesdevotedto Renaissanceor early
Baroquemusic.As impliedby Mersenne's
fingeringchart,the rangeis
fromd' to g'" andthe pitchagreescloselywith modem.Lackof a D#
when attemptingto play worksdatingfrom the
key is a disadvantage
and
18th
early
century; it is knownthatsometimein the 17thcentury,
afterMersenne,thiskey beganto be introduced.
I am indebtedto R. K. Lee,Jr., for the photographandto Angelica
B. Lee for playingand commentingon the musicalqualitiesof the
flute.
DIMENSIONS
Mersenne
Reconstruction
(mm)
6o5.o
Length
I 5/6pieds(595mm)
8 lignes(18mm)
Borediameter
17.7
to
end
embouchure
82.0
3
Top
pouces(81mm)
19.0
Plugto embouchure 8 lignes(18mm)
Holediameters:
embouchure
9.5
largest(>9mm)
3 lignes(6.75mm)
6.9
I
2
>3lignes(>6.75mm)
7.5
3
>3lignes()6.75mm)
7.o0
4
4 lignes(9 mm)
8.4
7.0
5
(notgiven)
6
3 lignes(6.75mm)
6.5
Distance
fromupperedgeof fingerhole
between
to loweredgeof holeabove:
holecentres:
I
2
3

(not given)

4
5
6

216.o

223.0

I13lignes(34mm)

33.0

12 lignes (27 mm)

26.7

40.0
34.0

17lignes(38.3mm)
(notgiven)
12 lignes(27mm)

40.3
29.0
25.2

48.0
35.0
32.0
85

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PLATE IX

A reconstruction
of Mersenne'sflute