The french flute school in the mid‑18th century in the light of Michel Corrette’s, Antoine Mahaut’s and de Lusse’s treatises. Part II

The second part of the article The French flute school in the mid‑18th century in the light of Michel Corrette’s, Antoine Mahaut’s and de Lusse’s treatises discusses fundamental technical issues as regards learning to play the flute. The authors of the analysed treatises emphasize aspects that are key to sound production: correct posture along with the position of hands and fingers, embouchure and fingering. Apart from basic information on the playing technique, one can also find suggestions on how to improve fingering and proper intonation, which are presumed necessary to achieve the best possible aural effect. What is more, when discussing the issue of fingering, de Lusse presents the composition – Air a la Greque, featuring enharmonic tones. The deliberate use of this special timbral effect, combined with the evocative title of the piece, can be interpreted as an allusion to the ancient theory of ethos, which highlighted an enormous influence of music on emotions and human soul.