As the Old Sing, So the Young Twitter
May 6–October 30, 2010
The exhibition As the Old Sing, So the Young Twitter takes its inspiration from the musical and verbal relationship between birds and flutes. In the often archaic definitions of words like “Twitter,” “Chatter,” “Record,” and “Warble” are links between birdsong and human music making. Using these four words, this exhibition explores the different realms of flute-playing, from the lively to the serene, and takes an etymological and iconographic journey through the depth and breadth of the Library of Congress collections relating to the flute.
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As the Old Sing, So the Young Twitter
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Twitter
No instrument emulates the twitting, floating, fluid songs of birds quite as well as the flute. While the human voice has difficulty replicating the delicacy with which birds and flutes undertake musical gymnastics, this is certainly not for lack of trying. The development of more sophisticated woodwind instruments for orchestral use reached its peak during the eighteenth century, although simple, whistle-type instruments such as three-hole tabor pipes and flageolets (end-blown instruments with distinctive “beak” mouthpieces) remained popular for amateur performances, such as those portrayed in this section. Read more about Twitter »
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Chatter
In this section, images depict members of the flute family being played with a variety of other instruments, from delicate strings and keyboards to martial trumpets and drums. Each type of ensemble depicted has a particular characteristic chatter and suits a particular setting, whether stately halls or raucous streets. The ability to play different dynamics, from very loud to very soft, was necessary to create the appropriate emotion and balance between instruments for ensemble performance. The improvement of the sound quality of orchestral woodwinds such as the oboe, a double-reeded instrument previously considered too harsh for inclusion in many compositions, led to their increasing use in orchestrations by composers of the eighteenth century. Read more about Chatter »
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Record
Like harps, dulcimers, and flutes, recorders—which derive their name from the verb “record”—were considered to be bas, or soft-playing, instruments, particularly suited for interior performance. The gentle sonority and clear, sweet tone of recorders led to their Italian name, flauto dolce, or “sweet flute,” and made it natural for Baroque composers such as Telemann and Vivaldi to use them to mimic bird-calls. In this “Record” section each image is suffused with a contemplative air that echoes the softness of the instrument, the gentle warbling indicated by early definitions of the verb “record,” and the quiet murmurings of the “praiseworthy nightingale.” Read more about Record »
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Warble
A flute may warble in the contemporary comical sense or may warble resoundingly, with all the dignity and majesty appropriate to the presence of a saint or an emperor. This section illustrates the emergence of transverse, or side blown, flutes in a wide range of surroundings. Read more about Warble »
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