Page:The story of the flute (IA storyofflute1914fitz).djvu/45

 THE TRANSVERSE FLUTE.

Was it known to the Greeks and Romans?The ChineseIndiaEarly representations and referencesThe SchweitzerpfeiffVirdungAgricolaPrætoriusMersenne's descriptionIn England.

Flutes with keysThe D♯ keyHotteterreThe conical boreStructure of early flutesTuning slidesQuantz's inventionsThe low C keysFurther keys addedTromlitz's inventionsOpen keysThe eight-keyed fluteCapeller and Nolan's keys.

SECTION I. — KEYLESS FLUTES.

origin of the transverse or side-blown flute is involved in much obscurity. It was formerly thought to be comparatively modern, and Germany, Switzerland, and England have each been termed its birthplace. But more recent discoveries tend to prove that the transverse flutethough not so usual as the vertical flutewas probably known in Europe early in the Christian era. Possibly it was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans; but if so, it is very remarkable that no clear allusion to it can be found in any of the writings of either nation. Care must be taken not to confuse it with the plagiaulos (see p. 13, ante) or with ancient pipes blown across the open