An AI-Assisted Study on the Vibrato of the French Flute School Based Upon Philippe Gaubert’s 1919-1920 Recordings

Abstract

This study investigates the conception and application of vibrato within the French Flute School, specifically examining the pedagogical approaches detailed in the Taffanel-Gaubert Method (1923) in conjunction with Philippe Gaubert’s historical recordings. After the death of Paul Taffanel, the founder of the French Flute School, Gaubert edited and co-authored the Taffanel-Gaubert Method, which remains popular and prevalently used even today. Through Gaubert’s extensive recordings, performance practices of his era can now be accessed to illuminate the aesthetic principles. By juxtaposing Gaubert’s recordings against recordings of flutists from the American and British Flute Schools, the authors focus on how vibrato is used as an expressive tool and how the method of the French Flute School has influenced their counterparts in US and UK. The analysis reveals that Gaubert did not oppose to the use of vibrato, but he was definitely against its misuse or its excess. Notably, the musical instruction “espressif” in the scores frequently correlates with sustained application of vibrato in Gaubert’s performance. Furthermore, Gaubert’s refined application of vibrato based on musical setting contributed to a distinctive personal style. Utilizing artificial intelligence tools, this study conducts quantitative analyses and visualizations of vibrato passages in Gaubert’s diverse musical repertoire, thereby approximating the aesthetic underpinnings of his approach. These findings underscore that vibrato in the French Flute School transcends mere technical execution but embodies a fundamental aspect of artistic musical expression.