Paris copy or independent school? Exploring the Belgian flute school after the Belgian independence

Following the research project on flute education at the conservatories in Antwerp, Ghent, and Brussels between 1870 and 1914, the current project focuses on the period before the Belle Époque: flute education at the conservatories of Ghent, Brussels, and Liège since their founding in the 1830s.

The research questions remain the same: What did flute education in these three institutions look like exactly? Who were their protagonists? Which types of flutes did they use, and which repertoire did they perform? How did they interpret the music? How do we deal with this cultural heritage today, and how can we incorporate the musical practices of that time into our interpretation of the works?

Answers to these questions are sought from both a theoretical and practical perspective. For this purpose, historical documents on flute education, flutists, and historical performance practice are collected and analyzed, after which the theoretical knowledge is transferred to flute playing. The results of this research will be presented in specialist journal articles, concerts, lecture-performances, and YouTube films.