Pinette

Pinette is a small wooden transverse flute that was popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Although similar in appearance to the modern concert flute, the pinette is usually narrower, shorter, and has a simpler keywork, often consisting of only a few keyholes.

The instrument was developed in France by the luthier Pierre-Louis "Le Maitre" Liénard and became widely used by marching bands, military ensembles, and circus orchestras. Its lower pitch range and bright, penetrating tone made it well suited for outdoor performance where louder and more direct sound was desired.

Construction of a pinette typically uses a single piece of wood, most often maple or birch, with a cylindrical bore and a gently tapered neck. The key mechanism comprises a single brass key that allows the player to shift between the natural notes and a few chromatic alterations. Because of its limited range, most of its repertoire consists of folk tunes, marches, and popular songs of the era.

Through the early twentieth century the pinette maintained a presence in popular music circuits, although it gradually gave place to the more versatile chromatic flutes. Nevertheless, it has experienced a modest revival among early music enthusiasts, and some contemporary composers have written original works for the instrument to explore its distinctive timbre.

Today the pinette remains a curiosity for collectors and performers of period music. Its surviving instruments can be found in museum collections, private holdings, and occasionally in the hands of musicians who specialize in historically informed performance.