Flute

Latin has a word for an early flute made of an alternative material: 'tibia'. It is no accident that this is also the word for the shinbone. Less likely to split that wood, bone was an ideal medium for shaping and perforating early flutes. By at least 5000 years ago, it had become an artform, and the recorder is a direct descendant of these early experiments.

The crossflute (held horizontally) was in existence in China at least 3000 years ago, and was also known in pre-dynastic Egypt; it evolved into the modern orchestral flute through a series of developments and refinement undertaken doring a long period of folk use until it entered the orchestra in France in 1681. Within two decades, it became widely accepted as a chamber instruments and concertoes were written for it. However, even with enthusiastic support from King Friedrick the Great of Prussia, it remained a relatively unsophisticated instrument.

The German flautist Theobald Boehm completely rethought flute design, working from basic acoustic principles. Between 1832 and 1847, he repositioned and enlarged the fingerholes and introduced an entirely new system of keys. They are now accepted world wide, despite being slow to achieve adoption in his home country.

Midi: Bach's Flute Sonata No.1 in A minor, BMV 1030

The flute is not an instrument that has a good moreal effect - it is to exciting. -- Aristotle

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