Are there any numbers/ demos/ etc. on the differences in volume between Boehm, Romantic, and Baroque flutes? I cannot say that I have ever heard the three side by side and usually not in anything close to the same venue. I keep hearing that there are volume differences, even within the simple system modern flutes, but I cannot say that I have any idea how much of a difference.
Probably one of those “it depends” things involving harmonics, the player, etc. but I was just curious if there was demonstration or something more quantitative.
Although your mileage may vary, I think it is safe to say, the larger the tone holes, the louder the instrument. Also, a cylindrical bore will be louder than a conical bore. Finally, metal will be louder than wood. Not sure about embouchure cut, but I’m guessing that is the factor most subject to differences from player to player.
Little do I know of flutes, but I believe the historical development of woodwind instruments was largely driven by the need for greater volume to compete with the larger orchestras of the classical and romantic periods. If that’s so, then your volume knob would turn in the direction of traverso - classical flute - Boehm system.
If cylindrical is louder than conical, how does the rennaissance flute hold up?
Not really about which is louder than what, but more about by how much. It will be difficult if not impossible to change one variable like tone hole size while keeping everything else constant, rather I was wondering if there was a consensus of the average volume differences (percentage, Db, or some other measure) of three commonly seen flute designs.
Not just volume, but consistency of tone/volume, note to note, which became an important - or at least more desirable - component for flutes over the past century and a half. Previously, shaded notes, which are softer than non-shaded notes, were appreciated as a tonal variation unique to flutes, and incorporated into the music (along with just temperament and other tuning issues). You have to sort-of re-train your ears to appreciate these characteristics, and most people never do. Modern conicals, particularly Pratten-types, are more consistent, note to note, than older flutes, I think; which sound(s) you prefer probably shows up in one’s choice of flute.
Rennaissance flutes aren’t particularly loud, but that has more to do with hole size than with the conical/cylindrical question.
As for volume, I’d put some Prattens, and even a few Rudalls (R or P types, not necessarily originals) against a Boehm. But, tonally, wood is softer on the ear (I’m sure there are frequency readings that say this more scientifically), and so metal Boehms cut better, or stand out more, than wooden conicals. So, in effect, Boehms sound louder. Which, ultimately, is what most symphony flute players are after.
Here (https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/flute-decibels/75605/1) are some decibels I posted some months back. My embouchure is better now, so I might try to make a second set of measurements, as I believe I could surpass these. But at least you have an idea how these 3 instruments compared as used by the same player. I would love to hear other numbers from other flutes and flute players
Check out Sebastian Jacot on YT if you want to see how loud a good wooden Bohm flute can be - though I think it also has very much to do with the player/technique. I doubt he’d be louder or richer on a metal flute or whether many metal fluting classical players could match him. Whether he is (capable of being) louder/more intense/more penetrating than Matt Molloy or Conal O’Grada in full flow, well one would have to do comparative live Db tests in the same acoustic space. Adrianne Greenbaum makes plenty of volume on her Meyer too! Since she swaps to her wooden Powell Bohm flute mid-clip, you can even compare…
I don’t want to bring up any hard feelings for anyone but this really reminds me of the type of experiments Terry McGee likes to do, it is right up his alley. I would doubt that he has enough time to take on something like this at the moment but it might be worth passing on the idea to him as it is something he might be interested in looking into in the future. That’s my two cents anyway…
Ah ya got me, typo fixed. Well 'tis hard to be sure of anything these days but this seems a less controversial topic than his current on-going experiment.
you sure about that, and your suggestion? 
