what is rudall and pratten?

[pipersgrip]

i know this is a very newb question, but i have no idea what the difference in rudall, pratten, just normal flute, or any other different kind of models out there. if someone could please explain these to me i would greatly appreciate it. thanks.

[Doug_Tipple]

Look here

[AaronMalcomb]

Here's the broad, very general account

Rudall was one of the greatest flute manufacturing firms in 19th C. London. While they were made in a wide variety of dimensions regarding bore and whole sizes, the smaller dimensions are what modern flute players and makers typify as 'Rudall'.

Pratten was one of the great flute players in 19th C. London. A flute making firm named Boosey made a line of flutes to Pratten's specifications called 'Pratten's Perfected.' These flutes are typified by larger bores and holes.

Players will say that there is a difference in sound and playing experience between the two designs.

A Rudall is driven by a highly focused and refined embouchure. Such a refined embouchure requires softer blowing from the player. Also due to the smaller dimensions many players with smaller hands seek out Rudall design flutes.

A Pratten will respond well to the highly focused embouchure but also plays well with a wider embouchure and firmer blowing from the player resulting in a sound that can seem louder and more powerful than a Rudall. The latter is how many typify the Pratten experience. Because of the bigger dimensions of the flute with the holes often being further apart, smaller handed players often avoid Pratten design flutes.

You'll read of players attributing various timbres to Rudalls or Prattens and can lead to heated debates. The debate often reduces down to how much of the sound of a flute is due to the player versus to the design or material of the flute.

You will find a great wealth of information on Terry McGee's website.

Welcome to the flute.

[Sillydill]

RUDALL






PRATTEN

[Denny]

[jim stone]

Dave Copley writes (I closely paraphrase) that the Pratten design has
long been a favorite for ITM because it can be played
to produce a loud and powerful tone, and is solid in the
low register with a strong low D. You can check his site.

The first time I ever saw an expert flautist play a Rudall-style
flute
she explained these tend to have a more 'focused' sound. That's
been my experience too. I think the narrower bore
and smaller holes have something to do with this.
Also a sweet second octave, and
somewhat easier fingering than the Pratten. On some Rudalls (like the
Byrne) the bottom D is a bit flat and one needs
to learn to bring it up to pitch and full strength.
Often they have somewhat less volume than
Prattens though, in the hands of a skilled player,
they tend to 'cut through' a noisy session.

In a way it's like the difference tween a dreadnought guitar
and an acoustic archtop used for jazz. More boom in
the former, more projection in the latter.

Of the two I so far have found Prattens more useful
in the venues in which I play, and the the Rudalls
more intriguing. Just me...

[pipersgrip]

cool, thank you guys very much. i understand the difference now.

[Jon C.]

Dave Copley writes (I closely paraphrase) that the Pratten design has
long been a favorite for ITM because it can be played
to produce a loud and powerful tone, and is solid in the
low register with a strong low D. You can check his site.

The first time I ever saw an expert flautist play a Rudall-style
flute
she explained these tend to have a more 'focused' sound. That's
been my experience too. I think the narrower bore
and smaller holes have something to do with this.
Also a sweet second octave, and
somewhat easier fingering than the Pratten. On some Rudalls (like the
Byrne) the bottom D is a bit flat and one needs
to learn to bring it up to pitch and full strength.
Often they have somewhat less volume than
Prattens though, in the hands of a skilled player,
they tend to 'cut through' a noisy session.

In a way it's like the difference tween a dreadnought guitar
and an acoustic archtop used for jazz. More boom in
the former, more projection in the latter.

Of the two I so far have found Prattens more useful
in the venues in which I play, and the the Rudalls
more intriguing. Just me...

You can think of it this way:
Pratten- Loud clear boring tone.
R&R- Loud complex colorful tone...

[Aanvil]

^^^ You said it not me.

BTW, you have any of your new R&C laying about someone might get a chance to try out?

[jim stone]

Well, the Olwell Pratten is a wonderful thing.
If I had to give up all of my flutes but one,
I'd keep it. It sounds great.

For me the Rudalls have a more limited utility.
I play a fair amount of music other than ITM
(like blues, bluegrass and old time) and the more focused
and perhaps more refined sound of the
Rudall mixes less well, sounds perhaps
more foreign--in my hands, anyhow. For thumping
jigs and reels, for me perhaps the Pratten is better.

I'm slightly embarassed
playing a Rudall in a pub, a Pratten less so.

SillyDill once said that
Prattens are like coffee and Rudalls are
like tea--more subtle, more complex, I guess.
There's something there in Rudalls that
intrigues me, something that needs investigating.

But they will have to pry the Olwell Pratten
from my cold, dead fingers.
We're blessed to have these wonderful instruments
to play.

[Guinness]

cool, thank you guys very much. i understand the difference now.

Now all that's left to do is figure out which makers are making which kind and for what model!

[chas]

Assuming the Rudall is the rifle and the Pratten is the cannon:

I know someone with a collection of guns and a cannon. We were down visiting and he fired the cannon a couple of times, which was pretty cool. So the next day I hear this huge boom and think he's firing the cannon without telling us. Nope, it was a .45-70, and the fire coming out of the barrel was considerably longer than what came out of the cannon.

[Jon C.]

^^^ You said it not me.

BTW, you have any of your new R&C laying about someone might get a chance to try out?

You should have come by today, broke out the 23 flutes for Michael to play, he could only manage about a tune per flute!

[Sillydill]

Sorry Jim,

RUDALL



PRATTEN

[pipersgrip]

cool, thank you guys very much. i understand the difference now.

Now all that's left to do is figure out which makers are making which kind and for what model!

you sure said it, that will be my next post to come.