Story of the Flute
city at this period. Flutes were imported from Europe into New York by Peter Goelet (1773) and John Jacob Astor (1789), who lived in 81 Queen Street. In 1821, John R. Parker of Boston announced that he had a choice collection of fashionable music for the flute, and in 1823 Meline played the flute obligato to Bishop's Echo Song in that city, Mrs. Holman being the vocalist. In New York Italian Opera in 1825 the flute desks were occupied by Blondeau and P. Taylor, whilst Flotter (appropriate name!) was flute in the Park Theatre in that city in 1832. In 1839, Downe played Böhm's Introduction, Air, and Variations at the New York Euterpian Society's Concert in the City Hall, and there were on that occasion four flutes in the orchestra, whilst the oboes, clarinets, and bassoons only numbered two each. The scarcity of oboe-players in America at this time often necessitated the oboe parts being played on flutes, of which apparently there was no lack. In 1849, Edward Lehman played the flute part in Kalliwoda's Concertante for flute, violin, and violoncello at the Mendelssohn Quartett Club of Boston.
Many European flautists have from time to time settled in America. One of the earliest, Philip ErnstLaterPlayers of
Foreign
Origin (1792-1868), a gunsmith, was born at Mentz, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. When recovering from a serious accident his physician advised him to play the flute to exercise his lungs, and he actually gave lessons and played at public concerts whilst still on crutches. After acting as first flute in the theatre of his
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