Barthold Kuijken (*1949), a native of Flemish Belgium, is a prominent figure in the world of early music. While still studying the modern flute, he discovered an original 18th-century single-jointed transverse flute, which became his greatest teacher. From then on, he taught himself using 17th- and 18th-century instruments as well as theoretical sources. As an outstanding soloist on the transverse and recorder, teacher, scholar, and conductor, he has had a decisive influence on the study of historical flutes and historical performance practice over the past 40 years. His work The Notation Is Not the Music is a synthesis of his research, ideas, and reflections on music.

In addition to legendary performances and acclaimed recordings of the flute repertoire ranging from the Baroque to Debussy with his brothers Sigiswald (violin) and Wieland (cello and viola da gamba), he has collaborated with many other early music specialists, such as Gustav Leonhardt, Robert Kohnen, Bob van Asperen, Ewald Demeyere, Paul Dombrecht, and Piet Kuijken. Barthold Kuijken has performed in concert and on recordings with the Baroque orchestras Collegium Aureum and La petite Bande, and is currently the conductor of the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra (USA).

In 2007, he became the first musician in Belgium to receive a doctorate in the arts. In 2014, he stepped down from his professorship in historical flute at the Royal Conservatories of Brussels and The Hague, but continues to perform in Europe, the United States, and Japan. He is also frequently invited to serve as a judge at competitions and to give master classes and lectures.