Bernold, P :: Le souffle, le son [The Wind, the Sound]

Philippe Bernold, Professor of Flute at the Superior National Conservatory of Music in Paris, presents an engaging form of new exercises based on orchestral, vocal and solo repertoire (with more than 20 excerpts) including works by Bach, Mozart, Bizet, Reinecke, Prokofiev, Debussy, Dutilleux, Messiaen…

This book contains exercises on vocalisation, fundamental exercises to work on the base of the air column and energy of the breath, exercises on improving the embouchure and on refining the end of phrases with the use of harmonics. The length of breath and the use of legato playing are addressed with carefully selected works (often orchestral excerpts), which permit the flutist to play with a tone and expression comparable to that of a singer.

Also covered are fundamental subjects such as support, vibrato, the column of air, the movement of the jaw, the timbre, and other nuances in the form of “notes” and “articles”.   

Four chapters address the following issues:
Chapter 1 — the energy of breath; airflow and airstream; quantity and intensity. Work focuses on the lower end of the air column. 
Chapter 2 — a focus on embouchure – the top end of the air column. These lip awareness exercises aim at lip flexibility and aperture control in order to develop a broad dynamic range and to play long tones. 
Chapter 3 — a synthesis of the first two chapters: modulating the air stream and controlling the lips to play long, nuanced phrases.
Chapter 4 — takes the previous chapter further with a focus on legato playing in lyrical pieces.