>

Flute range. The flute is the oldest musical instrument. Jazz and other styles

Many more types of flutes are used in folk and then professional music. Meet some of them and listen to their wonderful sound.


or small flute; (Italian flauto piccolo or ottavino, French petite flûte, German kleine Flöte) - a type of transverse flute, the highest sounding instrument among wind instruments. It has a brilliant, fort - shrill and whistling timbre. The small flute is half as long as an ordinary flute and sounds an octave higher, and a number of low sounds are impossible to produce on it.


- ancient Greek musical instrument, a type of longitudinal flute. The term first appears in Homer's Iliad (X.13). There were single-barrel and multi-barrel syringa.

The latter later became known as the Pan flute.


(panflute) - a class of woodwind instruments, a multi-barreled flute consisting of several (2 or more) hollow tubes of various lengths. The lower ends of the tubes are closed, the upper ends are open.
The name is due to the fact that in antiquity the invention of this type of flute was mythologically attributed to the deity of forests and fields, Pan.


Di(from the Old Chinese henchui, handi - transverse flute) is an ancient Chinese wind instrument with 6 playing holes. In most cases, the trunk of the di is made of bamboo or reed, but there are di made of other types of wood and even stone, most often jade. Di is one of the most common wind instruments in China.


(English: Irish flute) - a transverse flute used to perform Irish (as well as Scottish, Breton, etc.) folk music. The Irish flute is found in versions with valves (from one to ten), and without. Despite the corresponding name, the Irish flute, by its origin, has no direct connection with Ireland. In essence, it is an English modification of the transverse wooden flute, which for quite a long period of time was known as the "German flute."


(Quechua qina, Spanish quena) - a longitudinal flute used in the music of the Andean region of Latin America. Usually made from reed. Has six upper and one lower finger holes. In the 1960s and 1970s, the quena was actively used by some musicians working within the nueva canción movement.


- Russian wind instrument, a type of longitudinal flute. Sometimes it can be double-barreled, with one of the barrels usually having a length of 300-350 mm, the second - 450-470 mm. At the upper end of the barrel there is a whistle device, at the lower part there are 3 side holes for changing the pitch of sounds. The trunks are tuned to each other in a fourth and give a generally diatonic scale in the volume of a seventh.


- Russian folk musical instrument, wooden flute. It is a wooden tube with a diameter of 15-25 mm and a length of 40-70 cm, into one end of which a wooden plug (“wad”) is inserted.


- a type of longitudinal whistle flute, which is also a traditional Russian folk wind instrument, the most ancient of those in use among Eastern Slavs. This variety was characterized by a diatonic scale and a range of up to two octaves. Actively used amateur groups both as a solo and ensemble instrument


(from the English tin whistle, literally translated as “tin whistle, pipe”, pronunciation options (Russian): whistle, visl, the first is more common) - a folk longitudinal flute with six holes on the front side, widely used in folk music Ireland, Scotland, England and some other countries.

The transverse flute is a musical instrument made of wood. It is a wind instrument and belongs to the soprano register. changes through overblowing. Also, during the game, valves open and close the holes.

general information

Bamboo cross flute is enough a rare event today, since modern musical instruments of this type are usually made of metal (platinum, gold, silver, nickel), sometimes also of glass, plastic or other composite materials. Range - over three octaves. Notes for the transverse flute are written based on the actual sound. The timbre is transparent and clear in the middle register, dull in the lower register, and somewhat harsh in the upper register. The flute has a variety of techniques available to it. She often performs orchestral solos. Used in brass and symphony orchestras. Also used in chamber ensembles. Symphony orchestras use from 1 to 5 flutes. More often their number is from two to three.

History of the instrument

The transverse flute has been known to mankind for a long time. The earliest image of her was found on an Etruscan relief. It was created in 100 or 200 BC. Then the instrument was pointed to the left. Only in the illustration for the 16th century poem is it held to the right.

Middle Ages

The transverse flute is also found in archaeological excavations. The first such finds in Western Europe belong to the XII-XIV centuries. ad. One of the earliest images dating back to that time is contained in the pages of an encyclopedia called Hortus Deliciarum. Researchers suggest that the instrument temporarily fell out of use in Europe, and then returned there, coming from Asia, through the Byzantine Empire. In the Middle Ages, the design consisted of a single component, sometimes there were two. The instrument had a cylindrical shape, as well as six holes of the same diameter.

Renaissance and Baroque

The transverse flute did not change its design much in the subsequent period. The instrument had a range of 2.5 octaves. It made it possible to play the entire list of notes of the chromatic scale with a good command of the fingering. The last one was quite difficult. The middle register sounded best. Known original instruments of this type are kept in Verona in a museum called Castel Vecchio. The first significant changes to the design of the instrument were made by the Otteter family. Its representative Jacques Martin divided the flute into 3 parts. Subsequently, there were 4 of them. The body of the instrument, as a rule, was divided in half. Otteter changed the drilling to a conical one. In this way, intonation between octaves was improved.

In the 18th century, they added to the instrument a large number of valves As a rule, there are 4 - 6 of them. Important innovations were introduced by Johann Joachim Quantz and Georg Tromlitz. During Mozart's lifetime, the transverse flute, which has a single valve, was most often used. TO early XIX century, the number of these elements began to increase rapidly. Music for this instrument is more virtuosic. Additional valves, in turn, facilitated the execution of the most difficult passages.

There were many design options. In France, a flute with five valves was popular. In England there were 7 or 8. In Italy, Austria and Germany there were many different systems. Here the number of valves could reach 14 or even more. The instruments received the names of their inventors: Ziegler, Schwedler, Meyer. There were valve systems made specifically to facilitate a particular passage. In the 19th century, Viennese-type flutes were also created; they included the G sound in the small octave.

Musical instrument: Flute

This amazingly virtuosic instrument with a light, airy, seemingly “fluttering” sound, reminiscent of birdsong, belongs to the group of woodwinds. According to ancient Greek myths, its invention is the merit of the son of Hephaestus - Ardal. Perhaps no other instrument has undergone such transformations and improvements. Initially there were two varieties - transverse and longitudinal, but later the first version replaced the longitudinal one and took its rightful place in the orchestra. These two types are very different from each other not only in appearance, but also in the method of sound production.

History flutes and many interesting facts Read about this musical instrument on our page.

Flute sound

The sound of the flute is reminiscent of magic. Amazingly beautiful sounds are born in the middle register - unusually clear, pure and transparent. It is not for nothing that the flute occupies a special place in the folklore and fairy tales of many peoples; it is often endowed with mystical properties. The melodic sound of a flute in the hands of an experienced musician can not only give aesthetic pleasure, but also simply enchant us with its expressive and piercing music, which seems to go straight to our hearts. The soft and melodic sound of a flute can sweeten our ears, soften our hearts, and evoke the kindest and brightest feelings.


A flute or a simple pipe, as a rule, becomes one of the very first musical instruments that children may encounter, and they are even able to make it themselves from available objects of a suitable shape.

It is worth saying a few words about the peculiarities of the sound of the flute.The lower register is slightly dull, but one cannot help but notice its softness, warmth and spiritual penetration, and the upper row of notes sounds piercing, with a sharp whistle.The peculiarity of the flute's acoustics is that when playing the piano, the pitch of the sound decreases slightly, while playing the forte raises the sound.

The nature of the pitch of sounds can be changed by adjusting the strength of the air stream as you exhale, and of course, using the valve mechanism that closes the holes on the instrument.

Flute range occupies the interval from the note “C” of the first to the note “C” of the fourth octave.

Photo





Interesting Facts

  • An example of the largest transverse flute is an instrument created by Indian master Bharat Sin in Jamnagar in 2014. The length of this flute was 3.62 meters. The national anthem was sung with her participation.
  • Flutes are made from more than a hundred different materials, including bone, wood, metal, glass, crystal, plastic, and others. There is even a chocolate flute that can be used to play music.
  • The title of the most expensive flute according to the Forbes rating belongs to an instrument created by Powell in 1939. This platinum flute is now valued at $600,000.


  • The largest number of flute players in an ensemble of 3,742 participants gathered in Japan on July 31, 2011, at the 400th anniversary celebration of Hirosaki Castle.
  • The longest continuous performance by a flautist lasted 25 hours 48 minutes and was achieved by Catherine Brookes in Bedworth, UK, on ​​17-18 February 2012. Catherine repeated the 6-hour program several times, containing 92 various works, from classics to modern trends in music.
  • The flute is the only orchestral instrument on which air is blown across the holes. And you should know that a flutist’s air consumption is much greater than on any other wind instruments, including such large ones as tuba .
  • The oldest flute was discovered in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in 1998. The musical instrument, made from the bones of a cave bear, contains four holes. Paleontologists believe that this flute is 43,000 - 82,000 years old.
  • The main deity of Hinduism, Krishna, is depicted with a bamboo flute. It has been said that Krishna created the world through beautiful sound flute, which also preaches love and freedom.


  • There are 30 varieties of flutes, which are produced in almost fifty countries around the world.
  • They played the flute prominent figures. Leonardo Da Vinci, John II, Martin Luther, Emperor Nicholas I, Enrico Caruso, Woody Allen, M. Glinka , and many others.
  • It is known that at the court of the English king Henry the Eighth V, a whole collection of flutes was collected - 72 pieces.
  • US President G. Cleveland greatly valued his crystal flute with gold elements.
  • In Vietnam, in the mountainous district of Yen The, during the rebel peasant movement, the flute was used not only as a musical instrument, but also as a bladed weapon. They were given alarm signals and killed their enemies at the same time.
  • According to researchers, practicing the flute has a positive effect on the intellectual development of children, immunity, and has a preventive effect against respiratory diseases.

Popular works for flute

I. Bach - Scherzo (Joke) from suite for flute and string orchestra No. 2 (listen)

V.A. Mozart - Concerto for flute and orchestra in G major (listen)

J. Ibert - Concerto for flute and orchestra Allegro scherzando (listen)

Flute design

The transverse flute is an oblong cylindrical tube with a system of valves that close 16 holes. One end of it is closed, there is a hole on it where the lips are applied to blow air. Modern types Flutes include a three-part structure: head, body and knee. Unlike other wind instruments, the sound of a flute is formed by directed air flow towards the edge of the lip plate. Huge role in correct technique The game belongs to the shape of the lips or “embouchure”. You can subtly change the sound of the instrument by changing the degree of tension and shape of the lips.

The overall pitch of the sound is changed by extending the head from the body of the instrument; the more the head is extended, the lower the sound will be.

Average flute weight – 600 grams.

Modern concert large flute makes up 67 cm long, and the length of the piccolo is only about 32 cm.

Varieties of flute

In addition to the main large concert flute, the transverse flute has three main varieties: alto and bass.


Piccolo flute- among wind instruments the most sounding instrument. The structure is the same as that of a large flute, the difference lies in the size - it is half as long as an ordinary one and sounds an octave higher. The harsh tone of the piccolo flute easily drowns out the sound of an entire orchestra. In the play Rimsky-Korsakov "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" she is given the theme of a squirrel crunching nuts. In Act 1 Bizet's opera "Carmen" a pair of piccolos accompanied a chorus of boys marching boldly behind the line of soldiers.

Alto flute. They resemble an ordinary concert flute, but are slightly larger in size and with a different structure of the valve system. The range is from “G” of the small octave to “D” of the third octave.

Bass flute- in the range from “si” of the major octave to “fa” of the second octave

It is worth mentioning much more rarely used samples - d "Amour, double bass, octobass and hyperbass.

Application and repertoire

The expressive sound of the flute attracted the attention of the greatest composers.

A. Vivaldi wrote 13 concertos for flute and orchestra. I.S. Bach, who is well aware of technical capabilities, composed a huge number of works with the participation of the flute, his sonatas are especially beautiful, and the sparkling “Joke” and the unusually touching “Siciliana” do not leave music lovers around the world indifferent to this day. Masterpieces of the flute repertoire include works G.F. Handel , K.V. Gluck, I. Haydn , W.A. Mozart, L.V. Beethoven . The charming “Melody” is the most popular solo in the opera “ Orpheus and Eurydice ” demonstrated the sensually expressive aspect of flutes. The flute received a significant place as a solo instrument in the works of V.A. Mozart . A real understanding of timbre and virtuoso capabilities was revealed by L. Beethoven, who in his own way introduced it into the symphony orchestra; an example is the overture to the opera “Leonora”.


The age of romanticism was also marked by the development of performing skills on the flute. During this period, the repertoire of flutists was enriched with masterpieces by such masters as K.M. Weber, F. Schubert , D. Rossini, G. Berlioz, C. Saint-Saens .

IN jazz Drummer and jazz bandleader Chick Webb was one of the first to use flutes in the late 1930s. Frank Wess was among the first notable jazz flutists in the 1940s.

Jethro Tull is probably the most famous rock band regularly using the flute, played by band leader Ian Anderson. The alto flute can be heard in the Beatles song, "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away", played by John Scott. Also in the composition "Penny Lane".

Game techniques


There are a variety of techniques used when playing the flute. Often, musicians use double and triple staccato and the very effective frulato technique, which was first used in the symphony-poem “Don Quixote” by R. Strauss. Subsequently, the ingenuity of the flutist performers had no limits:

Multiphonics - two or more sounds are produced simultaneously.
Whistle tones - soft whistle.
Tangram - sounds similar to clapping hands.
Jet whistle - jet whistle.

Knocking of valves, playing with a spike without sound, sounds produced at the same time as singing, and a variety of other techniques.

History of the flute


The history of the flute takes us to primitive time. It all started with tubes, which were used to whistle at first. Nowadays they are simply called pipes, which can be made from any suitable object, such as a pen or a cocktail pipe. Then people realized that if holes were cut in the tubes that could be closed with fingers, then it would be possible to perform musical pieces that were more complex in structure - numerous tunes and melodies.

The flute is very diverse in its functions. Initially she was a tool in the arsenal of shepherds who used her to control animals, and then her status increased to such an extent that she took part in spiritual rites.

Samples of the transverse type flute appeared a very long time ago, back in ancient China, in the 9th century BC, then in India, Japan, Byzantium. It spread to Europe only in the Middle Ages and arrived from the East. In the 17th century, the flute, which gained great popularity, was modified by the French master J. Otteter, after which it began to occupy worthy positions in instrumental ensembles and opera orchestras.

We owe the modern appearance of the flute to the German master and composer T. Boehm, who lived in the 19th century. He complements the flute with a system of valves and rings, placed large holes for the fingers according to acoustic principles, and also began to use metal in production, which made it possible to enhance the brilliance of the sound of the flute. Since those times, this instrument has hardly changed, and it is difficult to add something truly original to a musical instrument that is laconic in design, capable of introducing new features into a familiar form.

Flute for all its apparent simplicity, it not only has a rich and glorious history, but is also distinguished by a uniquely wide range of uses. This is due to the fact that it is one of the most ancient, if not the most ancient instruments, with the help of which our primitive ancestors tried to create music tens of thousands of years ago. Since the Stone Age, the flute begins to win the hearts of people, enchanting us with its soulful and exciting sound, which reverberates not only in the heart, but also in the most deeply hidden genes inherited from our distant ancestors. A modest wooden or bone flute, lovingly carved by a master, can create a whole unique universe filled with continuous amazing sound that you want to listen to endlessly.

Video: listen to the flute

Say “flute” and an image involuntarily appears before your eyes: an uncle (aunt) holds in both hands a long silver stick as thick as a finger and with a bunch of valves. How does uncle hold a stick? - in both hands, with one side at the lips, with the other it sticks out to the side. Those. not along the body, like a clarinet, but across it. Because it is transverse - the most common flute used in the usual sense in European classical music. This is a template. But its place is not only in symphony orchestra, because she plays not only classics, because she doesn’t always look like that. A flute is a woodwind (English), a woodwind instrument.

Here is the first dissonance - not a silver tube, but a wooden one. They learned to make pipes from metal a couple of hundred years ago, but before that they were made from wood. And not from a block of black African wood, as now, but from reed, reed, bamboo, hogweed, depending on the geography of distribution of plants with a hollow trunk. And the oldest surviving flutes are generally made of tubular bones (as in the legend of Ken’s flute). In the old days they didn’t know how to drill holes; there were no drills.

But the second dissonance is that when playing, the flute is not necessarily positioned across the musician’s body; it happens along (sopilka), and maybe diagonally (kaval). Flutes are different and, depending on the method of sound production, they are held differently. Where there is a whistle, they hold it straight, where they blow into the end sharpened along the entire diameter, there it is diagonally, and where there is an embouchure hole on the tube itself, there the flute is held across.

And dissonance number three is the valve system, the excellent idea of ​​homo mechanicus is not at all necessary. Of course, the mechanics of modern flutes are complex, precise, and miniature. It expands the playing capabilities of the instrument: the valves clearly block the playing holes and air does not leak through the fingers, and most importantly, it allows you to make such long tubes (read, they allow you to make very low sounds) that the length of human fingers would not be enough if these valves were not there . And the number of fingers is limited, depending on who you are :) I have ten of them. On the chromatic sopilka I play all ten, and on the Moldavian kaval even five are enough - so many historically developed holes that meet the modal requirements of Moldavian folk music. And we have as many as 12 notes. This is where the wonders of mechanics come in handy, where pressing two adjacent valves with one finger, as well as combinations of pressed valves, allows you to accurately play all the notes of a full scale. But it is possible without valves. Valves are an option.

A transverse flute (in common parlance Poperechka) in its minimalist definition is a tube made of any material hard enough to hold its shape, with one closed and one open end, one hole on the side of the tube closer to its closed end for blowing into, and a system of holes for overlap with your fingers to shorten the air column in the tube (increasing the sound). Well-chosen dimensions of the tube (length, internal diameter, wall thickness), dimensions and center-to-center distances of the playing and embouchure (where to blow) holes, and the master’s minimized curvature make up the three pillars on which a successful musical instrument is built—the transverse flute.

Examples of crosses:

  • Bansuri (India)
  • Carnatic flute (southeast Indian)
  • Diji (China)

  • Irish
  • Baroque

Flute— common name for a number of musical wind instruments from the woodwind group. It is one of the most ancient musical instruments in origin. Unlike other wind instruments, the flute produces sounds by cutting the air stream against an edge, instead of using a reed. A musician who plays the flute is usually called a flutist.

Types

The head of the flute family is the Great Flute. Each of the members of this instrumental family is nothing more than a reduced or enlarged copy of it. The following types are distinguished:

  • Block flute(German: Blockflöte - flute with a block) - a type of longitudinal flute. This is a woodwind musical instrument from the whistle family. The design of the head part uses an insert (block). Related instruments: pipe, sopilka, whistle. The recorder differs from other similar instruments by the presence of 7 finger holes on the front side and one on the back - the so-called octave valve. The two lower holes are often made double. 8 fingers are used to close the holes when playing. To play notes, the so-called. fork fingerings (when the holes are closed not in order, but in a complex combination). Among the varieties of longitudinal flute, the recorder is defined as the most important. In European countries it has become widespread since the 11th century; Subsequently, the popularity of this instrument increased, as a result of which, from the 16th to the 18th centuries, the recorder was the most actively used and frequently encountered type of flute. The instrument is characterized by a soft, warm, cantilena (that is, melodious) timbre, but at the same time it is different disabilities from a dynamic point of view. The recorder is often used in musical works such composers as J. S. Bach, A. Vivaldi, G. F. Handel and others. Due to the fact that the sound of the recorder is rather weak, its popularity gradually declined due to the spread of the transverse flute. However, this variety is currently enjoying some interest for several reasons; among them is the tendency towards the revival of ancient music and the possibility of using the recorder as a teaching instrument (since the technique of playing it is relatively simple)
  • Transverse flute(often just a flute; Italian flauto from Latin flatus - “wind, blow”; French flûte, English flute, German Flöte) is a woodwind musical instrument of the soprano register. The pitch of the sound on the flute changes by blowing (extracting harmonic consonances with the lips), as well as by opening and closing the holes with valves. Modern flutes are usually made of metal (nickel, silver, gold, platinum), less often of wood, and sometimes of glass, plastic and other composite materials. The name is due to the fact that during the playing process the musician holds the instrument not vertically, but horizontal position; the mouthpiece, accordingly, is located on the side. Flutes of this design appeared quite a long time ago, in late antiquity and ancient China (9th century BC). Modern stage The development of the transverse flute begins in 1832, when the German master T. Boehm improved it; Over time, this variety replaced the previously popular longitudinal flute. The transverse flute is characterized by a range from the first to the fourth octave; the lower register is soft and dull, the highest sounds, on the contrary, are shrill and whistling, and the middle and partly upper registers have a timbre that is described as gentle and melodious.
  • Piccolo flute(often called simply piccolo or small flute; Italian flauto piccolo or ottavino, French petite flûte, German kleine Flöte) is a woodwind musical instrument, a type of transverse flute, the highest sounding instrument among wind instruments. It has a brilliant, fortified, shrill and whistling timbre. The small flute is half as long as an ordinary flute and sounds an octave higher, and a number of low sounds are impossible to produce on it. The range of the piccolo is from d² to c5 (D of the second octave to the fifth octave), there are also instruments that can play c² and cis². For ease of reading, notes are written an octave lower. Mechanically, the small flute is constructed identically to a regular one (except for the absence of “D-flat” and “C” of the first octave) and, therefore, is characterized by generally the same performance features. Initially within the orchestra (starting from the second half of the XVIII century), the small flute was intended to strengthen and extend upward the extreme octaves of the large flute, and it was recommended to use it in opera or ballet rather than in symphonic works. This was due to the fact that in the early stages of its existence, due to insufficient improvement, the small flute was characterized by a rather harsh and somewhat rough sound, as well as a low degree of flexibility. It should also be noted that this type of flute goes quite well with ringing percussion instruments and drums; In addition, the small flute can be combined into an octave with the oboe, which also gives rise to an expressive sound.
  • Syringa(Greek σῦριγξ) - an ancient Greek musical instrument, a type of longitudinal flute. The term first appears in Homer's Iliad (X.13). A distinction was made between single-barrel syringa (σῦριγξ μονοκάλαμος) and multi-barrel syringa (σῦριγξ πολυκάλαμος); the latter later became known as the Pan flute. Russian translators traditionally render σῦριγξ with the somewhat indistinct word “pipe”. The Greek word served as the anatomical name for the vocal organ of birds (see syrinx). Syrinx is known as a traditional wind instrument of shepherds and peasants in antiquity. This variety often appears in ancient Greek poetry; was also used for musical accompaniment stage performances, including Ancient Rome. Subsequently, the instrument also penetrated into later European folk music.
  • Pan Flute(panflute) - a class of woodwind instruments, a multi-barreled flute consisting of several (2 or more) hollow tubes of various lengths. The lower ends of the tubes are closed, the upper ends are open. The name is due to the fact that in antiquity the invention of this type of flute was mythologically attributed to the deity of forests and fields, Pan. When playing, the musician directs a flow of air from one end of the tubes to the other, as a result of which the air columns contained inside begin to oscillate, and the instrument produces a whistle of a certain height; Each tube produces one basic sound, the acoustic characteristics of which depend on its length and diameter. Accordingly, the number and size of the tubes determine the range of the panflute. The instrument may have a movable or fixed plug; depending on this they are used various ways its fine tuning.
  • Di(笛, 笛子, from the Old Chinese hengchui, hendi - transverse flute) is an ancient Chinese wind instrument, a transverse flute with 6 playing holes. In most cases, the trunk of the di is made of bamboo or reed, but there are di made of other types of wood and even stone, most often jade. Di is one of the most common wind instruments in China. It is assumed that this type of flute entered the country from Central Asia in the 2nd-1st centuries BC. e. The hole for injecting air is located near the closed end of the barrel; in the immediate vicinity of the latter there is another hole, which is covered with a thin film of reeds or reeds (there is, however, an option without a film, which is called “mendi”). For adjustment, the remaining four holes are used, which are located at the open end of the barrel. This instrument is played in the same way as a transverse flute. Depending on its use in works of certain genres, two types of di are distinguished: quidi and baidi.
  • Irish flute(English: Irish flute) is a transverse flute used to perform Irish (as well as Scottish, Breton, etc.) folk music. It is a transverse flute, the so-called. a simple system - its main 6 holes are not closed by valves; when playing, they are closed directly by the performer’s fingers. The Irish flute is found in versions with valves (from one to ten), and without. Despite the corresponding name, the Irish flute, by its origin, has no direct connection with Ireland. It is essentially an English version of the transverse wooden flute, which for quite a long period of time was known as the "German flute"; the British subjected it to certain modifications, and the most significant of them were introduced by the English inventor and performer C. Nicholson Jr. Many classical and some modern variations on this flute's theme include the use of metal valves and additional tone holes, allowing partial or full chromatic scales to be achieved.
  • Kena(Quechua qina, Spanish quena) is a longitudinal flute used in the music of the Andean region of Latin America. Usually made from reed. Has six upper and one lower finger holes. Typically made in G tuning. The quenacho flute (Quechua qinachu, Spanish quenacho) is a lower-sounding variant of the quena, in D tuning. In the 1960s and 1970s, the quena was actively used by some musicians working within the nueva canción movement . In most cases, the instrument was used in specific song compositions, but certain groups, such as Illapu, used its capabilities regularly. Subsequently, in the 1980s and 1990s, the quena was also used by rock bands - for example, Soda Stereo or Enanitos Verdes. The instrument is also found in ethnic music.
  • Pipe- Russian wind instrument, a type of longitudinal flute. Sometimes it can be double-barreled, with one of the barrels usually having a length of 300-350 mm, the second - 450-470 mm. At the upper end of the barrel there is a whistle device, at the lower part there are 3 side holes for changing the pitch of sounds. The trunks are tuned to each other in a fourth and give a generally diatonic scale in the volume of a seventh. In addition, a pipe can also be understood as an outdated wind instrument, which was characterized by a double reed inserted into a special cup; Subsequently, on its basis, by somewhat simplifying the design (in particular, eliminating the use of a cup), the oboe was developed. In this meaning, the flute is related to the bombarda, a woodwind instrument that was the predecessor of the bassoon. The flute was historically its first and smallest type.
  • Pyzhatka- Russian folk musical instrument, wooden flute, traditional for the Kursk region of Russia. It is a wooden tube with a diameter of 15-25 mm and a length of 40-70 cm, into one end of which a wooden plug (“wad”) with an oblique cut is inserted, directing the blown air to the pointed edge of a small square hole (“whistle”). The term "pyzhatka" can also be considered as a synonym for the concept of sopel - a type of longitudinal whistle flute, which is also a traditional Russian folk wind instrument, the most ancient of those in use among the Eastern Slavs. This variety was characterized by a diatonic scale and a range of up to two octaves; By changing the strength of the air flow and using special fingerings, a chromatic scale was also achievable. It is actively used by amateur groups both as a solo and as an ensemble instrument.
  • Whistle(from the English tin whistle, literally translated as “tin whistle, pipe”, pronunciation options (Russian): whistle, visl, the first is more common) - a folk longitudinal flute with six holes on the front side, widely used in Irish folk music, Scotland, England and some other countries. The most popular are small whistles in the key of D. They are tuned an octave higher than other wind instruments (a regular flute, for example, or bagpipes), and the notes for them, accordingly, are written an octave lower. However, the popularity of the so-called is also increasing. low whistle - a longer modification of the instrument that sounds in approximately the same range as a regular flute. There are whistles in other keys; they are defined as transposable (that is, all whistles are considered instruments in the key of D, even if they actually sound higher or lower).
  • Ocarina- an ancient wind musical instrument, a clay whistle flute. It is a small egg-shaped chamber with holes for fingers ranging from four to thirteen. Multi-chamber ocarinas may have more openings (depending on the number of chambers). Usually made of ceramic, but sometimes also made of plastic, wood, glass or metal.

Story

The flute is one of the oldest musical instruments; official sources date its appearance to 35 - 40 thousand years BC. But perhaps this amazing musical instrument is much earlier.
The prototype of the flute is an ordinary whistle, the sound of which appears when an air stream oscillates, which is cut by the sharp edge of a tree or other material.
There were whistles different types, they were made of clay, stone, wood. They existed among most peoples as various signaling devices, children's toys and as musical instruments.
Later, holes were cut in the whistle tube, by clamping which it was possible to adjust the pitch of the sound. Chromatic frets were formed using finger combinations and closing the holes halfway or one-quarterway. An increase in sound by an octave occurred by increasing the strength and/or direction of breathing. Gradually, the whistle tube became longer, and there were more holes. The sound range expanded, the melodies and playing techniques became more complex.
The Middle Ages period is characterized by the emergence of instrumental ensembles at courts. Longitudinal and transverse flutes were in fashion. During the Renaissance, the best was made in Venice and Bologna wind instruments. Until the end of the 16th century, performers used longitudinal flutes different sizes- treble, alto, tenor, bass. Their range ranged from 2 to 2.5 octaves. Their sound was pleasant, soft, but very weak, inexpressive, uneven in strength and not always accurate in pitch. The reason was that the playing holes were located where it was convenient to close them with your fingers, and not based on acoustic requirements. Ensembles of 20 people were made up of flutes.
The first orchestras appeared in the 17th century. Monteverdi in the opera “Orpheus” introduced only one small flute into the group of wind instruments of the orchestra, which played serene shepherd’s tunes, creating a pastoral flavor for a number of scenes. As the orchestra developed, the role of flutes increased, and in the operas of the German composer G. Schutz they no longer only accompanied singing, as in others, but enriched it, complemented it and competed with it. There is an assumption that the transverse flute originated in Germany. It was made from one piece of wood, had 6 holes covered with fingers and one for blowing air. The Old German flute covered 2.5 octaves - from D first to A third. The bore of the barrel was conical, tapering towards the end, due to which the sound was soft, gentle, but not strong (although louder than that of the longitudinal one), and most importantly, more expressive. The lowest sound was obtained from shaking the air column in the flute tube; others shortened it, i.e. all sounds corresponded to the main holes, and intermediate “chromatic” steps were obtained using “forked fingering” or “fork grip”. The drilling of the tube of the old German flute had a reverse-conical drilling, in which the largest diameter span was at the “head” of the flute, and the smallest at its “foot”, i.e. the drilling tapered towards the bottom of the instrument, allowing the fingers to be comfortably placed on the surface of the flute. In Renaissance England, theater orchestras used the flute in wedding scenes. Then for the first time he became famous English composer Purcell wrote the Flute Sonata.
The most significant works for flute at the beginning of the 12th century were created by J. S. Bach. He wrote a large number of works for the flute and with its participation. The composer had an excellent knowledge of the technique of playing the flute, its timbre and color capabilities, and loved its light, silvery, singing tone. The flute sonatas of J. S. Bach stand out, written under the influence of the playing of the famous virtuoso flutist Johann Joachim Quantz, who introduced Bach to all the techniques of playing the flute.
Working on improving the flute. Quantz made an adjusting screw for the plug of the head of the instrument. In 1770, P. Florio made an additional valve, and he was so afraid that someone would find out about it that he covered this part of the flute with a case. Additional valves for the flute were invented in different times and other masters (D. Tessit in England. I. Tromlitz in Germany, P. Pegersen in Denmark, etc.). This made it possible to obtain halftones, making it easier to play, but did not rid the flute of the shortcomings that still exist: inaccurate intonation, uneven sound in different registers.
The 19th century became a huge laboratory for the constructive improvement of the flute, which affected the development of performance, pedagogy and repertoire. This was also facilitated by the emergence of professional orchestras in the USA and Western Europe.
The most significant figure in the field of flute playing in the 19th century was Theobald Böhm (1794-1881). A famous German musician, he toured extensively throughout Europe and his performances were a great success. Boehm is the author of many works (for example, 24 capriccio etudes) and teaching aids for flute. His musical talent was combined with passion and ingenuity. Once in London, Boehm met with the English flutist W. Gorden, who amazed him with his playing. It turned out that Gorden had developed a new flute design, but was unable to complete it. This is what Boehm did, proposing in 1832 a new model equipped with ring valves. But the designer himself did not like it, because... was imperfect. Second model (1846-1847). embodied everything. what was required of the flute in terms of its acoustic, expressive and virtuoso abilities. Boehm made a revolution in the design: he replaced the conical bore of the barrel (reverse-conical drilling) with a cylindrical one, improving the quality and fidelity of the sound, greatly expanding the boundaries of the instrument to three full octaves or more, positioning the playing holes in exact accordance with the acoustic calculation, making their diameter large ( on the ancient flute the holes were very small), and all the holes were equipped with conveniently located plate-shaped and ring valves, which made it possible to achieve even sound and the ability to more easily perform various complex gamma-shaped and arpeggiated passages, trills, and tremolos. Now, by closing one valve, you can at the same time open the auxiliary opening. A complex valve system made it possible to close several holes at once by pressing the lever of one valve. Boehm based his calculations not on the convenience of the arrangement of holes and valves, but on the “acoustic principles of better resonance,” precisely establishing the scale length (the ratio of the length to the diameter of the tube). The performer's finger no longer completely closed the holes, which led to an ingenious system of valves located so conveniently that it became possible to cope with the most difficult technical constructions.
Although the flute has not yet been freed from some annoying flaws in its design, due to only partial use of the proposals of outstanding flute masters. But these shortcomings are not so significant - a few unplayable trills and especially difficult moves. Supporters of the old German flute complained that the Boehm flute destroyed the beauty of sound characteristic of the old flute (and this is partly fair). But the sound of Boehm's flute is fuller, richer, rounder, the most complex technical patterns are accessible to her, which she overcomes with amazing ease and outward ease. Its sound is crystal clear, melodious, but rather cold. As a result of all the improvements, the flute gained even greater recognition among major composers, enriching their creativity, decorating orchestral scores with new timbre colors.
The main development paths in the history of performance were determined by the famous works for flute by G. Fauré (“Fantasy”). S. Chaminade (“Concertino”), A. Dvorak (“Serenade”) and others.