Transverse Flutes by London Makers, 1750-1900, in the Collections of The Shrine to Music Museum

Amy M. Shaw, St. Catherine University

Abstract

In London during the early 19th century, the flute achieved a degree of popularity that some writers have called “flutomania.” The city was home to many instrument makers who created a dazzling array of flutes to meet the demands of the many professional and amateur players. This master's thesis, completed at the University of South Dakota, explores the history of English flutemaking from the mid-18th century to the end of the 19th-century. It includes a catalog of 73 flutes from the collections of the Shrine to Music Museum, which is now the National Music Museum (http://orgs.usd.edu/nmm/).