The Evolution of the Flute

Extract

From time to time not a few examples of examination curiosities come before me for observation and criticism. I sometimes think that those who set these papers, and who are responsible for this modern outcome of to-day's musical position, are more desirous of plucking unfortunate candidates than of ascertaining the practical value of their knowledge. I could mention items which would puzzle not a few old and experienced musicians to answer. I remember seeing in a paper by a Welsh examiner the directions : “Give an account of Church Music from the 16th to the 19th century”! Another : “What would be the mathematical value, if added together, of a dotted crotchet, a dotted quaver, a double dotted semiquaver, and a double dotted demisemiquaver, all contained in a bar, value of one semibreve ?”