Page:The story of the flute (IA storyofflute1914fitz).djvu/69

CHAPTER IV.

Böhm and Gordon.

Biographical—Revolution in the flute—Gordon—His flutes—Böhm—His flutes of 1831, 1832, and 1847—His publications—As a player—His compositions—Böhm's centenary—The controversy—Priority of inventions—Coche's attack Clinton's views—Revival of the controversy—Rockstro's attack—Summary.

We now have reached the most momentous stage in the history of the modern flute—the period when the instrument underwent practically a complete revolution, which changed it from being very imperfectRevolution
in the
Flute and unsatisfactory into the most perfect of all wind instruments. The question of the origin of the Böhm system, that "most happy of all the more modern improvements made in orchestral instruments," has given rise to one of the bitterest and most prolonged controversies that has ever disturbed the harmony of the musical world. To this day flute-players are divided as to the rival claims of Böhm and Gordon, and it is not likely that the questions raised will ever be quite fully and satisfactorily answered. But the majority of flautists are now agreed that the Böhm flute is rightly so named. I shall endeavour to give a concise and impartial state-

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