These names have been used occasionally for flute stops with no particular distinguishing characteristic; they are most often encountered with some modifying term, e.g. Flauto Dolce, Spitzflöte, Harmonic Flute. When individual ranks first started to be separated from the Blockwerk of the medieval organ, these names were among the first to be used. The name Flûte was common in classical French organs, where it usually indicated an open 8' or 4' flute, but was occasionally used for a Bourdon. On theatre organs, the name Flute is usually an abbreviation for Concert Flute. While the literature lists Flet as a synonym for Gedeckt, it is more likely a synonym for Flute.

Variants

Examples

Osiris contains around 650 examples of Flute or Flûte, around 130 examples of Flöte, around 100 examples of Fluit, around 40 examples of Flauto, 3 examples of Flet, 2 examples of Fleut, and 2 examples of Flöt. No examples are known of Fletna or Fluste (mentioned only by Adlung).

Flöte 4', Ober-werck; Katherinenkirche, Hamburg, Germany; Stellwagen 1543. This is the oldest known example of this name.

Flauto 4', Rückpositiv; Abbey, Muri, Switzerland; Schott 1630. This is the oldest known example of this name.

Flute 4', Stoel (rugpositief); St. Niklaaskerk, Gent, Belgium; Niclays 1605. This is the oldest known example of this name.

Fluit 4', Werk; Abbey, Averbode, Belgium; van Heyst 1517.

Fluit 2', Rugpositief; Abbey, Averbode, Belgium; van Heyst 1517.

Fluit 4'; St. Denijs, Veurne, Belgium; de Buus 1521.

Fluit 4', manual; St. Quintens, Leuven, Belgium; Verrijt 1522.

Flet 4', Echo, Dreifaltigkeits-Orgel; Abbey, Ottobeuren, Germany; Riepp 1766.

Flet 4', Positiv; Dreifaltigkeits-Orgel; Abbey, Ottobeuren, Germany; Riepp 1766.

Flet 4', Manual; St. Mark's Church, Krakow, Poland; Sapalski 1856.

Flet 8', Manual; St. Mark's Church, Krakow, Poland; Sapalski 1856.

Fleut 4', Manual; private residence, Valkeakoski, Finland; Pirkkanen 1995.

Fleut 4', Pedal; Kristine Church, Falun, Sweden; Cahman 1724.

Flöt 4', Hauptwerk; Abbey Church, Neresheim, Germany; Holzhay 1792-98.

Flot 4', Brustwerk; St. Cosmae, Stade, Germany; Schnitger 1668.

Sound Clips

See the Sound Files appendix for general information.

Bibliography