Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/A/Antigenidas

Antigenidas, of Thebes. One of the most renowned musicians of antiquity ; he was appointed flute master to Alcibiades. Aulus Gelbus relates, that Alcibiades, setting up for a fine gentleman, and taking the utmost care of his person, was soon disgusted with his instrument, as Minerva had been before ; for happening to see himself in a mirror while he was playing, he was so shocked at the distortion of his countenance, that he broke his flute in a transport of rage, and threw it away, which brought this instrument into great disgrace among the young men of rank at Athens. This disgust did not, however, extend to the sound of the flute itself ; for we find by Plutarch, that great performers upon it continued long after to be much followed and admired. Antigenidas, notwithstanding the height of his reputation, regarded public favor as a precarious possession, and was never elated by the acclamations of the multitude ; and so fully was he persuaded of the coarse taste of' the common people, that one day, hearing at a distance a violent burst of applause bestowed upon a flute player, he said, "There must be something very bad in that man's performance, or those people would not be so lavish of their approbation." Antigenidas was the author of several improvements on the flute. He increased the number of holes, which extended the compass of that instrument, rendering its tones more flexible and versatile.