fløyter

Fløyter is the Norwegian term for flute, referring to a family of wind instruments that produce sound from a vibrating column of air. The player directs a stream of air against an edge or a mouthpiece and changes pitch by opening and closing finger holes or by using keys. Fløyter vary in size, construction, and playing technique, and they appear in many musical traditions around the world.

The most widely played member of the modern fløyte family is the konsertfløyte, or concert flute, a side-blown, transverse instrument usually made of metal. It is held horizontally and played with a system of keys that open and close tone holes. The modern Boehm system, developed in the 19th century, standardized fingering and gearing, enabling greater intonation, a broader range, and easier playability. The typical concert flute ranges roughly from C4 to about C7, with expressive dynamic control and a bright, agile tone.

Other fløyter include the blokkfløyte (recorder), a fipple flute played with a vertical mouth and finger holes; the panfløyte, a set of parallel pipes that produce sound when air is blown across the top of each pipe; and the fife, a small, portable transverse flute used in military and folk bands. These instruments vary in construction, timbre, and technique but share the basic principle of producing sound from an air column activated by the player's breath.

Historically, fløyter appear in ancient and medieval music, evolving into diverse instruments in classical, folk, and contemporary styles. Today they are prominent in orchestras, ensembles, and solo performance worldwide.