h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

J'au-æmne,

The Guide needs an article on Flutes. It has articles on just about every other orchestral instrument (mostly written by me). I don't know that much about flutes and I see you play one. So I thought you might like to help me write one. My preliminary draft is at A789410. It particularly needs a section on 'Music for Flute'. Have a look at it and see do you want to help.

Thanks,
G

Okay I'm willing to try. I'm not a great expert in the flute repertoire, although I can probably add some suggestions, but you seem to have done an excellent job so far.

Things I can definitely contribute though are a kind of 'flute player's perspective' of piccolo, alto flute and bass flute.

Also, in my experience a gold flute is better than a silver one because it was probably made more carefully. My old flute teacher had a gold one. This may seem strange until you realise that a) it was a gift from his brother and b) his brother is James Galway. I tried the gold one once; it played wonderfully because it was very carefully crafted. I suppose its the same thing as a wooden clarinet being better than a plastic one because it's probably been made better, although on the other hand its probably more possible to get a well made silver flute than a well made plastic clarinet.

I've heard that James Galway does not think much of the UK Music Education system and prefers to find promising youngsters and give them gold flutes. He can afford it. I've also heard the same Mr Galway state that his flute sounds better when he stores it under a pyramid.

Are there any other flute players on h2g2 that could cast some light on the flute repertoire? I noticed that the "Taking Up a Musical Instrument" collaborative entry did not include any advice on flute playing, so you must a rare breed! I have a list of flute pieces from one of my encyclopaedias, but it's seventy years out of date, so I don't know what is considered mainstream these days.

F94490?thread=196668 might help

Researchers who are flautists include Amy U50994 And Shazz used to or still does teach flute...

I used to play in a flute ensemble, so I know what it's like to play alto flute and bass flute, a little. Bass flute smells, literally!