There are many different types of flutes, all of which are part of The Woodwind Family.
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The Flute is one of history╒s oldest musical instruments. Its origin dates back to ancient times, when people discovered they could make beautiful sounds by blowing into shells, or into tubes made out of reed, bark or animal horns.
The first actual flute-like instruments originated in China over 20,000 years ago, and in Europe over 10,000 years ago.
One of the earliest flutes capable of playing an actual melody was the Panpipe. Panpipes, named after the Greek god Pan, were played by shepherds in ancient Greece as they tended their flocks.
The panpipe consists of a series of individual pipes (or tubes) tied together. Short pipes produce higher tones, longer pipes produce lower tones. By combining several lengths of pipes together in a row, the panpipe player can play different notes to produce a melody.
Around 2,000 years ago, flute players added a series of holes to the pipe, which were covered or uncovered by the fingers. These flutes represented a great technical advancement over the panpipes. Why? Well, the addition of these toneholes to the pipe let flutists, in a sense, lengthen or shorten the tube themselves.
With the panpipes it had taken a different pipe to produce each pitch. Now, a player could play many notes on the same pipe. Much easier on the lips! And, the addition of these toneholes give the flutist much greater ability to play more complicated melodies.
By the 16th and 17th centuries, flutes╤and flutists╤had continued to develop throughout the world. The flute had become one of the most popular and most commonly played instruments in many different cultures.
In Europe, brilliant composers like Johann Sebastian Bach were writing extraordinary music for a type of simple flute known as The Recorder.
The music of Bach, and other composers of the period, is still played today by muson of a Faun
Gluck: Dance of the Blessed Spirits from Orpheus and
Eurydice
Mozart: Concerto for Flute and Harp
Mozart: Flute Concertos in G Major and D Major
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (as part of the orchestra
throughout)
Ravel: Introduction and Allegro
Saint-Saæns: ╥Aviary╙ from Carnival of the Animals
Stravinsky: Octet
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (╥Chinese╙ and ╥Reedpipes╙)
Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty (╥The Bluebird╙ Pas de Deux)
and as part of the orchestra throughout
Solo Albums by James Galway or Jean-Pierre Rampal
PICCOLO
Bizet: La Garde Montante from Carmen
Britten: The Young Person╒s Guide to the Orchestra
Sousa: The Stars and Stripes Forever
ALTO FLUTE
Lloyd Webber: Requiem
Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring
BASS FLUTE
Stalling: Jumpin╒ Jupiter from ╥Bugs Bunny On Broadway╙
