In this article we continue our series on musical instruments, this time with the magical sounding flute. The flute has a long, long tradition and has been part of human music making from the dawn of history.
The flute is one of the oldest musical instruments in human history, some primitive versions made from animal bones were found during excavations, dated as 30-45 thousand years old. Flutes were widely used on all continents; all great ancient civilizations will provide evidence.
The flute we use today appeared during the Renaissance period in the sixteenth century. Ever since it plays a prominent role in any modern orchestra. Originally the term ‘flute’ was used for both the horizontally (sideways) and vertically held pipes (recorder). Later to distinguish them the term flauto traverso (sideway held flute in Italian) was introduced.
The early flutes did not have keys, only a cylindrical body, mouthpiece and seven holes. In the Baroque era an invention was introduced, a key mechanism that made it possible to play all semitones. This was also known as the “baroque flute”.
The next very important jump in the evolution of this instrument was in 1847 during the Paris Exhibition, where a German wind instrument manufacturer presented his new flute, which featured a metal body and more keys.
The flute has relatives such as the piccolo, the bass-, and alto flute. Usually, a musician who performs on any of these, can play on all of them. The piccolo is the shortest of these (approx. 30 cm) and has a sound one octave higher than the flute. The bass flute is the longest (approx. 130 cm) and it plays one octave lower than the flute.
Flutes are produced from metals, such as nickel-silver or solid silver; gold in various purities and some from hard wood. The latter produces a warmer sound that many player prefers.
Flute has its place in Greek mythology, too. According to one the first reed pipe was played by a satyr named Pan. Pan loved and chased a beautiful nymph called Syrinx (meaning reed), who wanted to escape him and prayed to the river gods for help. Eventually she was turned into reed. Pan missed her so much, he only found comfort in playing reed pipes for the rest of his life.
Beethoven composed some works specially for flute. Most notable ones are:
Six Themes and Variations for Flute and Piano, Opus 105
Ten Themes and Variations for Flute and Piano, Opus 107
Serenade for Flute and Piano, Opus 41.
