440 Hz

Voice flute in D after P. Bressan, A:440 Hz

Unfortunately not many original voice flutes in A=440 Hz (altos in E flat, A=415 Hz) have survived. There is one specimen by Peter Bressan in the Chester Collection in England. It is not sure what function this instrument had. Maybe this was the flûte pastourelle for which Telemann among others composed (see the article by Erich Benedikt in Tibia 3/1986, pg. 168).

A voice flute in 440 can be used in many different ways: a) As a voice flute in D, A=440 Hz to play together with organ or other high pitched instruments (repertoire: see voice flute 415). Also some Bach cantatas:

• BWV 152: Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn. The recorder player plays in g minor and the orchestra plays in e minor. When the pitch is A=440 Hz the whole piece will sound in the original key e minor.
• BWV 161: Komm, du süsse Todesstunde. The recorder player plays in E flat major and the orchestra plays in C major. When the pitch is A=440 Hz the whole piece will sound in the original key C major.
• BWV 182: Himmelskönig sei willkommen. The recorder player plays in B flat major and the orchestra plays in G major. When the pitch is A=440 Hz the whole piece will sound in the original key G major.

b) As an alto recorder for solo repertoire. For example Telemann Fantasies. According to Quantz solo repertoire sounds better on flutes with a broad low register and a light high register.

c) Many players experience a voice flute in 440 as a great advantage if used as an alto in E flat, A=415 Hz. As an alto in 415 you can play pieces with many flats. Think about:

• J.S. Bach: Sonata BWV 1017 originally for violin and harpsichord. The recorder player plays in D minor and the harpsichord player plays in C minor. When the pitch is A=415 Hz the whole piece will sound in the original key C minor.
• G.Ph. Telemann: Ouverture in E flat major TWV 55:Es 2 for flûte pastourelle, strings and Basso Continuo.

Think of Bach cantatas as well:

• BWV 18: Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt. The recorder player plays in a minor and the orchestra plays in g minor. When the pitch is A=415 Hz the whole piece will sound in the original key g minor.
• BWV 71: Gott ist mein König. The recorder player plays in D major and the orchestra plays in C major. When the pitch is A=415 Hz the whole piece will sound in the original key C major.
• BWV 106: Actus tragicus. The recorder player plays in F major and the orchestra plays in E flat major. When the pitch is A=415 Hz the whole piece will sound in the original key E flat major.