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EnglishWhat Are "Readings in the History of the Flute" by Robert Bigio?
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"Readings in the History of the Flute" is a book by Robert Bigio, a flute maker and author whose site bigio.com also lists his other work, Rudall, Rose & Carte: The Art of the Flute in Britain. The title indicates a collection of historical writings on the flute rather than a single continuous narrative: "readings" in this context means gathered texts and documents, and "history of the flute" defines the subject. That makes it a sourcebook for readers who want primary or period material on the instrument, not a step-by-step method for playing it.
What the title tells you about the contents
The phrase "Readings in the History of the Flute" describes a genre, not a specific table of contents. Based on the title alone, you can expect:
- Collected texts rather than one author's argument — the plural "Readings" signals an anthology or compilation.
- A historical focus — the subject is the flute's development and place in music history, not technique, repertoire lists, or buying advice.
- A documentary approach — such collections typically reproduce or excerpt writings from the periods they cover, so the value lies in having those sources gathered in one place.
The site itself does not display a contents list, chapter breakdown, or sample pages in the available material, so the exact selection of texts is not documented here. Treat the title as the reliable description and verify specifics (period covered, number of pieces, whether translations are included) before buying.
Who it suits
| Reader | Why it fits |
|---|---|
| Flute players curious about the instrument's past | Gives historical context that method books usually skip |
| Music history students and researchers | A single place to find period writings that would otherwise be scattered |
| Collectors of flute literature | Complements Bigio's Rudall, Rose & Carte on British flute making |
| Readers wanting a playing manual | Not the right choice — this is history, not instruction |
If your goal is to improve technique or choose an instrument, a history anthology will not serve that purpose. If your goal is to understand how the flute was written about and understood in earlier eras, a readings collection is the appropriate format.
How it relates to the rest of bigio.com
Bigio's site presents him in two connected roles: flute maker and author of books on the flute. "Readings in the History of the Flute" sits on the authorial side, alongside Rudall, Rose & Carte: The Art of the Flute in Britain. The two works differ in scope:
- Rudall, Rose & Carte is a focused study of one British firm and its place in flute making.
- Readings in the History of the Flute is broader in subject, gathering historical writings rather than examining a single company.
Reading them together gives you both a wide historical frame and a detailed case study. The site does not state prices, formats, or purchase links in the material available, so check the site directly for availability and ordering details.
Practical next step
To decide whether it is worth your time, look for a contents list or index — the decisive question for any anthology is which texts it includes. If you can see the sources covered and they match the period or topic you care about, the book does what its title promises. If no contents list is available, the title and the author's established role as a flute historian are the main signals you have.