The Flutist Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1920 Excerpt: ... wrist being turned in such a position that the little finger comfortably covers the G sharp key lever, thus insuring quick, sure action when desired; the thumb is placed well upon the thumb keys, the keys coming in contact with the flesh midway between the cushion of the thumb and the nail. Straight, flat-lying fingers cannot be relied upon for as quick action as bowed fingers, and likewise, more rapid execution is possible when the fingers lie very close to or "nurse" the cup keys than when the fingers are raised high above the keys. The latter also result in an annoying click which is frequently heard above the notes sounded. To hold the flute perfectly straight across the lips produces a very stiff position almost as displeasing to the eye as the position shown in Fig. 22. The great secret of art is to conceal art, hence the necessity for creating an impression of ease rather than difficulty. A sensible audience revels in the art of one who executes'the most difficult technical passages with consummate ease, and while the antics of the gyrating, pendulistic, skyrocketing, temperamental (?) artists may appeal to the gallery, it is very bad form and should not oriental music. It passes under the guise of temperament, but its real name is "fourflushing." It is the same kind of temperament that possesses prima donnas and should be handled in the same manner. It is as logical to contend that a wilful child is temperamental and should not be corrected whereas the remedy lies in a good old fashioned spanking. Of course the writer does not advocate the spanking of these temperamental artists, but he sincerely hopes that such actions will be corrected through friendly criticism. Years ago the great Paderewski made his famous pounding tour thr...