I am a flutist and flute teacher in a little music school in Uharte, Navarre, in north of Spain. Seven months ago I received my modern traverso made by Mr Beaudin. Before, gently, he sent to me a demonstration flute, which I had during the construction of mine.

I started playing the traverso three years ago, with a Stanesby Jr. Copy and after with a Rottenburgh copy. Before, I played the Bohem system flute, in metal first and African Blackwood after. I changed to the wood, searching a warmer tone and other expression ways, and I found it in the simple system flute.

 But my first traverso was stolen, and the Rottenburgh was a friend’s loan. So I started searching for my own flute. My criterion was so limited, but I knew that I wanted a versatile flute for different musical contexts, stronger than the traverso but preserving his tone qualities. In this manner, after spending a lot of time searching in internet, I found Mr Beaudin and his idea. At first sight, it was what I was searching for. I wrote Mr Beaudin and began a new chapter.

Mr Beaudin answered patiently all my questions and didn’t spared sending information to choose the model and features of my new flute. Also he sent to me a demonstration flute when I confirmed my custom. When I received it, I was surprised with its size and proportions. It is a robust flute with a great diameter, and not longer than a traverso, but the proportions make it seem shorter. It has a bell form in the foot, remembering an oboe.

To play, it is easier than a traverso (especially for some one like me, used in the modern flute playing) The embouchure hole is bigger than the traverso’s hole, and the holes position are closer than those of the baroque flute. It has a mouldable sound. I played with it baroque music, flamenco, Japanese music and Basque and Irish music, and I had not problem to find different colours for each context. The flute has Mr Biggio’s zirconium stopper, and it makes the sound a little bit more brilliant.

On other hand, possible areas for improvement can be the incorporation of a tuning slide  ( mine gets a little bit low). Also, I replaced the cork of the key in the foot, and I placed a thicker one. That makes this key more precise.

 

Uharte, Spain
January 11, 2011