Western concert flute Western concert flute The Western concert flute is a transverse (side-blown) woodwind instrument made of metal or wood. It is the most common variant of the flute. A musician who plays the flute is called a flautist, flutist, flute player, or (rarely) fluter. This type of flute is used in many ensembles including concert bands, military bands, marching bands, orchestras, flute ensembles, and occasionally jazz bands and big bands. Other flutes in this family include the piccolo, alto flute, and the bass flute. A large repertory of works has been composed for flute. The flute is one of the oldest
Western concert flute Blavet, Vivaldi, and Handel. Because of the works of such composers, the flute became popular as a solo instrument. However, there were few professional flutists who had the flute as their main instrument; many had the oboe. In 1707, Jacques Martin Hotteterre wrote the first method book on playing the flute: "Principes de la flûte traversière". The 1730s brought an increase in operatic and chamber music feature of flutes. The end of this era found the publication of "Essay of a Method of Playing the Transverse Flute" by Quantz. The orchestras formed in the last half of the 18th century