Flute
The flute is a woodwind instrument that dates from ancient times. Sound is
produced from a flute by blowing onto a sharp edge, causing air enclosed
in a tube to vibrate. Many types of primitive flutes are known throughout
the world. In tropical regions and in the Orient, they are commonly made
from bamboo tubes. End-blown flutes may be simple tubes with a sharp edge
or notch, or they may have an inserted block, as in recorders and
whistles. The widespread side-blown or transverse flute is now common in
the West. The term flute also refers to certain organ pipes.
Evidence of
the side-blown flute in Europe is sporadic until the later Middle Ages,
when it was cultivated chiefly by the minnesingers in Germany. Shrill,
narrow-bored flutes (FIFES) became common as military instruments, and
one-handed, narrow-bored pipes played together with small drums
accompanied dancing in southern France and are still used in northern
Spain. By 1500 both recorders and keyless, six-holed, cylindrical
transverse flutes were familiar instruments--the tenor transverse flute,
pitched in D, was the ancestor of the modern instrument. About 1670 the
transverse flute, like the other basic woodwinds, underwent a
transformation. The instrument emerged in three sections--the cylindrical
head joint, the middle joint, and the foot joint with inverse conical
bore--and had six finger holes plus one closed key for D sharp in the foot
section. It was usually constructed of boxwood, the joints and ends
strengthened by decorative ivory rings. The instrument's lovely, mellow
tone was capable of sensitive nuances and inspired a large solo
literature, including more than 500 compositions by Johann Quantz and the
concertos and chamber music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Nevertheless,
chromatic notes, which are sharped and flatted tones, were difficult to
play in tune in tonalities other than D Major and those closely related.
With the addition of more keys late in the century, however, the flute of
the baroque and classical eras reached its peak. Theobald Bohm
experimented with the flute from 1832 to 1847, desiring to give it a
bigger tone. He finally produced a parabolic (bowl-shaped) head joint
attached to a cylindrical body with open-standing keys and finger pads to
cover large finger holes. Since then, other minor improvements have been
made. The modern flute has a range from middle B(b) upward for about three
octaves. The basic instrument (without B(b) key) is approximately 66 cm
(26 in) long. In Europe flutes are often constructed of wood; silver is
commonly used in the United States.
Other orchestral flutes are the
piccolo, a brilliant instrument pitched an octave higher than the standard
flute, and the alto flute, pitched a fourth lower than the standard
instrument. The rare bass flute, pitched an octave below the standard
instrument, is not a regular member of the orchestra.
The piccolo, a
transverse flute pitched an octave above the concert or standard flute, is
a development of the late 18th century. Its range is nearly three octaves,
reaching the highest pitches in the modern orchestra. It has a bright
sound that can be heard easily, even in thickly scored orchestral
passages. Used for special effects in orchestras, it has a more prominent
place in concert and marching bands. Although most modern flutes are built
of metal, the preference for wooden piccolos persists among some older
players. Antonio Vivaldi's "piccolo" concertos were originally for a type
of flageolet. One of the earliest symphonic uses of the piccolo is in the
finale of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. The piccolo is perhaps most
familiar, however, in its featured role at the close of John Philip
Sousa's march, "The Stars and Stripes Forever."
Here are the Flute players of WHS
Marie Webb
Kelly Williams
Colleen Dolan
Tracy Smith
Leonora Hurley
Nicole Buczek
Kimberly Nevader