Flutes

The flute is a wind instrument in the woodwind family. It produces sound when a stream of air is directed across an edge, causing the air inside the instrument to vibrate. Modern flutes are typically held horizontally and played by blowing across a mouthpiece; some end-blown flutes exist in other traditions. Although the name suggests wood, many orchestral flutes are made of metal.

Flutes are among the oldest known musical instruments, with early examples found in many cultures and dates extending into prehistory. In European tradition, the transverse (side-blown) flute evolved through the Baroque period. The modern Boehm system, developed by Theobald Boehm in the 19th century, standardised keywork and fingerings and greatly expanded the instrument's range and intonation.

The standard Western concert flute is pitched in C and is the best known member of the family. Other members include the piccolo (one octave higher), the alto flute (in G), and the bass flute (one octave lower). And there are substantial modern flutes that exist in the contrabass and other sizes. Together they cover roughly four octaves.

A typical flute consists of a head joint with the embouchure hole, a long body with a system of keys and tone holes, and a foot joint. Sound is produced by forming an embouchure and directing air across the edge; pressing keys changes the effective length of the air column. Flutes can be made from metal, wood, or composite materials.

In classical music, the flute is used in orchestras, chamber ensembles, and solo repertoire. It is also found in many folk, contemporary, and jazz settings, where players exploit its bright timbre and wide expressive range.