A comprehensive corpus of new information documenting the history and work of the two most important families of French flute makers. This profusely illustrated book, based on primary source material, makes a major contribution to our understanding of the social and musical contexts in which the French woodwind instrument makers worked.

Detailed findings on related l8th-century makers including Naust, Delerablé, Pelletier and Cornet are given here for the first time. New information is presented concerning the relationships of Louis Lot, Vincent Hypolite Godfroy and Theobald Boehm in the development of the modem flute.