Fun Fact Fiesta Logo

Discover the Magic: Top 6 Amazing Fun Facts About the Flute You Never Knew

illustration of the-flute
Dive into the magical world of flutes and uncover some intriguing, lesser-known tidbits about this mesmerizing instrument that will leave you both amused and amazed!

1. Hyenas as Ancient Flutists

Before Neanderthals had a bone to pick with Orpheus: it turns out that the so-called "Neanderthal flutes" might just be the remnants of an ancient hyena jam session. A recent study by Paleobiologist Cajus Diedrich suggests that these thigh bones from juvenile cave bears, previously believed to be early musical instruments with regular circular punctures created by Neanderthals, are actually the handiwork of scavenging hyenas gnawing on bones in southeastern Europe's caves, including the famous 43,000-year-old Divje Babe flute found in Slovenia.
Source => nationalgeographic.com

2. Holey Flute Sound Secrets

They say size matters, but in the world of flutes, it's all about that holey experience: The size of the flute's finger-holes profoundly impacts its sound, with larger holes creating clearer vibrations for a bel canto tone and smaller holes making that mystifying bamboo tone.
Source => forthecontemporaryflutist.com

3. Flute Materials Through the Ages

Flutes have been the life of the party since the cavemen era, serenading everything from mammoth proms to sabertooth tea ceremonies: Today’s flute materials range from metals like silver and gold to more traditional elements like wood, cane, and reed, with glass striking a sour note in the mix.
Source => producerhive.com

4. The Most Expensive Flute

Once upon a platinum, in the land of fluttering flautists: the Verne Q. Powell Flute, a dazzling melodic marvel with sterling silver keys, sold for a whopping $187,000 at a 1986 auction. Originally displayed at the 1939 New York Fair, it later enchanted eardrums in the hands of William Kincaid, as he performed with the New York City Symphony and the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestras. It now resides on loan at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, tickling the fancy of flute fanatics and passersby alike.
Source => ventured.com

Rabbits Love Yoga Music

5. Rabbits Love Yoga Music

Before hopping down the yoga studio with Bugs Bunny and Thumper in tow: a physical therapist and advanced certified Tellington TTouch practitioner has discovered that our furry rabbit friends find solace in the soothing long tones of yoga and reiki soundtracks, bringing much-needed relaxation and healing to those that have faced trauma or stress in their past.
Source => naturalawakenings.com

6. Dancing Egyptian Tattoos

Before boogieing down like an Egyptian, you better not forget your dancing shoes and your magical tattoos: ancient Egyptian dancers and musicians often sported amulets or tattoos of Bes, the god of merriment and protection, to amplify their performances and ward off those pesky, rhythm-disrupting evil spirits.
Source => study.com

Related Fun Facts