Ancient Greeks called this instrument Syrinx, in honour of the Muse, and Pandean, or Pan-pipes and Pan-flute, after Pan. Then, Pan cut several reeds, placed them in parallel one next to the other, and bound them together to make a melodic musical instrument. In her attempt to escape the affection of god Pan (a creature half goat and half man), she was transformed into a water-reed or calamos (cane-reed). In Greek mythology, Syrinx (Σύριγξ) was a forest Nymph. The pan flute has become widely associated with the character Peter Pan created by Sir James Matthew Barrie, whose name was inspired by the god Pan. Pan then later cuts the reeds to make himself a flute, but in doing so, kills Syrinx.Pan and Daphnis – 1st century BC Roman replica of 2nd century BC Greek original To hide from Pan, she turns herself into a water reed and hides in the marshes. Pan – god of the wild, shepherds and flocks – falls in love with the nymph Syrinx, who doesn’t return his affections. In this section of the ballet, Daphnis and Chloé are miming the love story between Pan and Syrinx from Greek mythology.Ī flute solo is used here, because the tragic mythological story of Pan and Syrinx is intrinsically linked to the instrument.

Gluck was, indeed, a great poet!’ Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé ‘The voice starts almost inaudibly, seemingly afraid to be overheard then it sighs softly and rises to the expression of reproach, of deep pain, to the cry of a heart torn by incurable wounds gradually it sinks into a plaint, a sigh, and the sorrowful murmur of a resigned soul. ‘When listening the D-minor melody of the pantomime in the Elysian-Fields scene in Orfeo, one is immediately convinced that only a flute could play this melody appropriately,’ wrote Berlioz in 1843 of this solo.

Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice: Act II, Menuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits The opening line is performed with an element of rubato and freeness in tempo, before the woodwind and harp joins. One of the most famous orchestral flute solos, Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un fauneopens with an evocative exposed flute line, which meanders up and down the scale in a an improvisatory style. Debussy: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune

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