Topic summary
German Flute
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Western concert flute.
Medieval flutes (1000–1400)
Throughout the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, the recorder was prominent in Europe while transverse flutes were very uncommon. The transverse flute arrived in Europe from Asia via the Byzantine Empire, whence it migrated to Germany and France. These became known as "German flutes" to distinguish them from others, such as the recorder. The flute began to be used in court music, along with the viol, and was used in secular music in France and Germany. It would not spread to the rest of Europe for nearly a century. The first literary appearance of the transverse flute was made in 1285 by Adenet le Roi in a list of instruments he played. After this, a period of 70 years follows in which few references to the flute are found.