EP0138231B1 - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

A flute is described having the mouthpiece, the shape and the dimensions of a recorder but is however provided with a key mechanism similar to that of a saxophone. The buttons, keys and tone holes are however adapted to the special features of sound generation by a recorder.

Description

The invention relates to a flute according to the preamble of claim 1.

Although the recorder is the most widespread musical instrument, it has hardly been developed since its creation. It only has tone holes that are mainly covered by the fingers. A scale can be played in this way, but the semitones between the whole tones can only be played with difficult grips, which in no way correspond to an ideal grip system. Even the flutes, some with double holes, did not bring a convincing solution to the problem. The immediately adjacent holes have to be covered individually or together by a single finger as required, which represents a considerable degree of difficulty.

So players of a recorder are quickly limited. if he wants to play fully technically and in all keys. To make matters worse, some tone holes should only be opened a crack to play higher notes. The response of these notes in the upper octave from around the two-streaked G is still poor, and most players fail to make music in this area at all.

The recorder has remained a relatively simple instrument to this day, which is suitable for playing simple pieces even by beginners, but is unsuitable for high-quality music making and is therefore hardly used at all in orchestras.

There are already those made of metal, e.g. B. German silver existing flutes (Boehm flutes), which have a flap and lever system that can be described as mature. However, the valve system is designed so that it places considerable demands on the musician. In addition, the sound generation is not easy, so that this instrument is reserved only for outspoken specialists. Attaching a recorder mouthpiece to such a Boehm flute (DE-OS 31 06 403) increases the difficulty of playing such an instrument, because the grip system of the Boehm flute is not designed for a flute-like flute.

From FR-A-964 387 a specific flap and keys recorder is known, but it is difficult to play because the arrangement of the keys and keys is different from all known musical instruments, so that this instrument requires a special learning process.

GB-A-20 93 251 shows a flute with a recorder-like mouthpiece, whereby the position of the flute is to be adapted to that of a recorder.

In contrast, the aim of the invention is to create a flute with the tone and sound of a recorder, but which is equipped with an easy-to-play, logically constructed grip system, whereby semitones and the high and highest tones are blown precisely and with perfect response should be able to.

To achieve this object, the features of the characterizing part of claim 1 are provided.

Due to the measures provided according to the invention, a recorder can be played like a saxophone. The saxophone grip system (DE-AS 23 28 852) is particularly logical and therefore relatively easy to play because the successive basic notes can be played in succession with the successive fingers of the hands - starting from the right little finger to the left index finger. Nonetheless, the flute according to the invention does not have the problem of sound generation by means of a wooden sheet relevant to the saxophone, which requires a special learning process only for blowing a clean tone.

The particular advantage of the flute according to the invention is that, for example, a saxophonist can play the new flute immediately, while, for example, he has to learn to play with a flute with difficulty; a normal recorder as a second instrument to a saxophone would not be considered in an orchestra. Conversely, a person who has learned to play the flute according to the invention can also learn to play a saxophone with ease because the grip system largely coincides and only the other type of tone generation still has to be learned.

With the flute according to the invention, all tones from low C to high F, including all semitones, can be played.

The instrument is not only suitable for orchestral musicians, but also for beginners, because they have no difficulty with the new flute when it comes to sound generation and the operation of the grip system can be quickly learned.

The invention thus creates an optimally playable flute with an exact response to all tones and including the semitones, so that the recorder not only becomes suitable as an orchestral instrument, but is also particularly easy to play.

Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized by the dependent claims.

The flute according to the invention can be produced analogously to a recorder in different sizes and toni z. B. in the manner of a C soprano flute, an F alto flute, a C tenor flute or the F bass flute. Vocal parts in Eb or B can also be used as a basis.

• Fig. 1 eine Seitenansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Flöte von links,
• Fig. 2 eine Draufsicht auf die von den Fingern beaufschlagbare Vorderseite der erfindungsgemäßen Flöte,
• Fig. 3 eine Seitenansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Flöte von rechts und
• Fig. 4 eine perspektivische Darstellung des Oktavklappensystems der erfindungsgemäßen Flöte in einer zur Veranschaulichung auseinandergenommenen Darstellung.

The invention is described below, for example with reference to the drawing; in this shows :

• 1 is a side view of the flute according to the invention from the left,
• 2 is a plan view of the front of the flute according to the invention which can be acted upon by the fingers,
• Fig. 3 is a side view of the flute according to the invention from the right and
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the octave key system of the flute according to the invention in a disassembled illustration for illustration.

According to FIGS. 1 to 3, the flute according to the invention has a tubular body 16 which is open at both ends and onto which a neck 17 with a mouthpiece 18 is attached. The body 16 and the neck 17 with the mouthpiece 18 are shaped and dimensioned in the manner of a recorder. To produce sound, the mouthpiece 18 has the labium 95 typical of a recorder.

The body 16 has a C key 34, a Dis key 41, a D key 38, an E key 44, an F key 46, a G key 15, an A key 22, starting from the bottom and an H key 24 on the front, an octave key 12 on the back. These keys, which can be operated by the little finger, the ring finger, the middle finger, the index finger of the right hand and the ring finger, the middle finger, the index finger or the thumb of the left hand, are arranged spatially like a saxophone. The keys mentioned are rotatably supported by means of swivel shafts 36, 39, 120, 72, 113, 114, 123 and 20 in bearing blocks 103, 124 fastened to the body 16. A thumb rest 102 arranged in the area of the F key 46 on the back of the instrument serves to grip the right thumb and facilitates the holding of the instrument in a similar way to the case with a saxophone.

The D key 38, the E key 44, the G key 15 and the A key 22 are ring keys which have a D tone hole 43, an E tone hole 45, a G tone hole 50 and surround an A-tone hole 51 such that the fingertips can close the tone hole in question when the ring buttons in question are depressed.

The F key 46 and the H key 24, on the other hand, form a structural unit with an F flap 47 and an H flap 52, so that when one of the keys 47 and 24 is depressed, it is not the fingertip but the associated flap 47 or 52 closes the tone hole below, not shown in the drawing.

All of the aforementioned buttons 34, 41, 38, 44, 46, 15, 22, 24 are biased into the open position by spring force. The springs are not shown for the sake of clarity.

The octave flap 12 surrounds a support projection 11 for the left thumb attached to the rear of the body 16 in the manner of a crescent moon.

The octave key 12 acts on a rocker lever 53 two octave keys 13, 14 arranged one above the other at a distance, of which the octave key 13 is arranged on the left side of the body 16 and the upper octave key 14, which is designed as a double key, is arranged on the left side of the neck 17. The neck 17 forms a piece with the mouthpiece 18.

The octave valve mechanism will now be described in detail with reference also to FIG. 4.

The octave key 12 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a shaft 20 which is inserted into a sleeve 104 forming a structural unit with the key 12 and is clamped and adjusted by means of a clamping screw 105. The shaft 20 extends through a longitudinally extending hollow shaft 63 to a lever 21 which branches off from a rotating sleeve 106. The other end of the shaft 20 is inserted into this rotating sleeve 106 and can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the lever 21 by means of a clamping screw 107. The shaft 20 is rotatably supported at its ends in bearing blocks 108, 109. A needle coil spring 110 attached to the bearing block 109 engages under a nose 111 of the sleeve 106, whereby the octave key 12 is biased away from the body 16 in the direction of the player's thumb. The hollow shaft 63 is freely rotatable on the shaft 20 passing through it and is not biased by any spring.

A rocker arm 53 is rotatably supported on a substantially right-angled extension 136 of the octave key 12 by means of a transverse pivot axis 58, namely about an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the body 16 and tangential to its left side.

One lever arm 56 of the rocker arm 53 engages in a recess 135 of an extension 57 on the lower octave flap 13. The octave flap 13 is fixedly connected to the hollow shaft 63 via a lever 112. Further levers 59, 60 also branch off at right angles from the hollow shaft 63 and engage under the pivot shaft 113 of the G key 15 or the pivot shaft 114 of the A key 22, non-rotatably connected G or A octave levers 54 or 55. The levers 54, 55 extend approximately at a right angle to the G key 15 and the A key 22.

The upper lever arm 61 of the rocker arm 53 engages under a projection 62 on a lever 100 which branches at right angles from a shaft 98 running in the longitudinal direction for the two upper octave keys 14 which are arranged on the shaft 98 in a rotationally fixed manner by means of a lever 101.

The shaft 98 is rotatably supported in the end position 99. A needle steel spring 115 fastened to the upper bearing block 99 engages under a nose 116 on the shaft 98 and thus prestresses the double flap 14 in the closing direction.

The shaft 98, like the bearing blocks 99, is hollow so that a bearing rod 117 can be passed through for the purpose of pivoting the shaft 98 and can be fastened between the bearing blocks 99 by means of a screw connection.

Due to the action of the spring 110, the octave key 12 presses on the rocker arm 53 at the right end in FIG. 4 of the body 16 and at the left end via the recess 135 the octave flap 13. The upper octave double flap 14 rests in the closed position due to the pressure of the spring 115, the connecting projection 62 being located just above the right lever arm of the rocker arm 53. The two octave keys 13, 14 thus remain closed in the lower octave, ie when the octave key 12 is not pressed.

The tones of the next octave are now heard by pressing the octave key 12. All fingers may now bring the assigned keys into the closed position, the G and A octave levers being raised and thus free of the levers 59, 60, i. H. relieve them. The octave flap 13 now springs open because the rocker arm 53 remains pressed down at its right ends in FIG. 4 by the force of the spring 115. The pressure of the octave key 12 has an effect on the octave key 13 via the rocker arm 15, since it floats without spring pressure, while the double key 14 exerts pressure on the rocker arm 53 by its spring force.

The following tones up to the G (ring finger on the left) do not change anything. If the ring finger or middle finger is now raised on the left, the rocker arms 54, 55 individually or together push the octave flap 13 into the closed position, since according to the invention the spring force of the G or A key 15 or 22 is stronger than the spring force from the spring 115 of the octave key 14 originates. The rocker arm 53 thus overcomes the force of the weaker spring 115, so that the flaps 14 open.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lever 21 (see also FIG. 4) attached to the sleeve 106 which can be pivoted by the octave key 12 is to a side on the left side of the body 16 between the G and A keys 15 and 22 arranged additional flap 19 out. The lever 21 engages over the additional flap 19 and is provided at its end with an adjusting screw 118 with which the desired distance between the lever 21 and the additional flap 19 can be established.

1 and 2, the additional flap 19 is attached to the lever arm 23a of a rocker arm 23, the other lever arm 23b engages one of the pivoting shaft 123 of the H key 24 at an angle of approximately 90 ° to this branching lever 25 such that when the H key 24 is pressed, the additional flap 19 is inevitably closed against the opening spring force. The rocker arm 23 is articulated by means of a transverse shaft 26 which is arranged on the left side of the body 16 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and tangentially to the body 16. The transverse shaft 26 is rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 27a, 27b by means of a bolt passing through it. The octave key 12 is thus connected to the additional flap 19 in such a way that when the octave key 12 is pressed and the H key 24 is not pressed, the additional flap 19 spring-loaded in the opening direction is released, and when the octave key 12 or the H key 24 is not pressed it is closed. An adjustment screw 119 is located in the upper end of the lever arm 23b.

The flute shown in the drawing has a first auxiliary flap 40 (FIG. 2), described below, a second auxiliary flap 68 (FIG. 3), also explained below, and a third auxiliary flap 64 which is subsequently explained. According to FIG. 1, the third auxiliary flap 64, which is biased by spring force into the open position, is provided on the left side of the body 16 at the level of the F-flap 47, which via a rocker arm 66 extends around a shaft 65 transverse to the longitudinal direction of the body 16 and tangential to the body 16 is pivotable. The lever arm 66b of the rocker arm 66 facing away from the third auxiliary flap 64 is underneath by a lever 67 connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the G key 15, so that the third auxiliary flap 64 is pressed into the closed position when the G key is pressed. As a result, the tones above G are stabilized due to the opening of the auxiliary flap 64.

Beneath the G key 22 is a combined Gis-Cis key 28 arranged laterally in the area of the left little finger, which is more resiliently biased in the opening direction, via its swivel shaft 127 and a lever 29 that extends an extension 125 of the holding lever 126 of the Gis Flap 30 engages under the Gis flap 30 which is weakly spring-loaded in the opening direction so that the latter is released while the Gis-Cis key 28 is pressed and the F key 46 is open, otherwise it is kept closed. The pivot shaft 127 is hollow and receives a shaft 31 in a rotationally fixed manner, which extends through hollow shafts 39, 120 to a pivot shaft 131, from which branches a lever 32 which resiliently prestresses one from a pivot shaft 121 in the opposite direction to that in the closing direction , below the C-flap 35 arranged Cis-flap 33 extending lever arm 133 and acts on the Cis-flap 33 so that it is opened while pressing the Gis-Cis key 28 against the spring force. In addition, the C key 34 connected to the C flap 35 acts via a shaft 36 and a lever 37 spanning the lever arm 133 of the cis flap 33 so that the latter opens against the closing spring force when the C flap 35 is opened by a correspondingly strong spring , but is closed when the C key 34 is pressed.

The D key 38 is connected to the first auxiliary flap 40, which is at the same height as the Dis flap 42 acted upon by the Dis key 41 and biased in the closing direction and is opened and closed synchronously with the D flap 43.

The dis flap 42 is on the left side of the body 16, the first auxiliary flap 40 on the front. The rotationally fixed connection between the D key 38 and the first auxiliary flap 40 is established by a hollow shaft 39 running in the longitudinal direction of the body 16. The shaft 31 extending between the G sharp key 28 and the lever 32 is partially passed through this hollow shaft 39 and a further hollow shaft 120 which pivots the E key 44 carries bar.

Between the F-flap 47 and the E-tone hole 45, the second auxiliary flap 68, which is biased by spring force into the open position, is arranged on a rocker arm 69 about a shaft 70 running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 16 and tangential to it, laterally on the right side. The lever arm 69b facing away from the auxiliary flap 68 is gripped by a lever 71 which is non-rotatably connected to a longitudinal shaft 72, which in turn is in rotary connection with the F key 46.

The high E key 87 located at the level of the right index finger additionally closes the F sharp flap 48 arranged above the F key 46 and covering a tone hole (not shown) such that the F sharp flap 48 is also closed when the E key 87 is pressed. For this purpose, an extension 97 of the Fis flap 48 is overlapped by a lever 88 of the high E key 87. The Fis flap 48 is further connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the pivot shaft 120 of the E key 44 via a lever 128. It is in turn overlapped by an extension 129 of the F key 46.

The approach 97 is not only used to close the Fis flap 46 via the E key 44. The approach 97 also overlaps the Gis flap 30 and thus presses the Gis flap 30 while the E key 44 and / or F key is pressed 46 always in the closed position. The approach 97 thus fulfills two functions. The high E key 87 is further connected via the lever 88, a pivot shaft 96, a connecting rod 89 with an intermediate rotary bearing 90 and a lever 92 mounted in a bearing 91 to the high E flap 93 arranged at the top of the body 16 on the right side (Fig. 3).

The B-tone hole covered by the B-flap 49 is arranged between the G-tone hole 50 and the A-tone hole 51. The B flap 49 is connected via a lever 76, a longitudinally extending rotary shaft 75 and an actuating lever 74 to the B key 73 arranged on the right side of the body 16 approximately at the level of the G sharp key 28.

The high D key 77 actuated with the left index finger is located above and somewhat to the side of the H key 24. It is via a D lever 78, a shaft 79 and a lever 80 extending perpendicularly thereto with the lever on the side of the body 16 connected at the level of the A-tone hole 51 high D-flap 81.

The high Es key 82, which can be actuated with the left index finger, lies to the right of the high D key 77 and is connected to the high Es flap 86 via an Es lever 83, a longitudinal shaft 84 and a transverse lever 85, which is on the right side of the body 16 is arranged above the high D flap. A lug 94 extends from the high Es flap 86 over the high E flap 93, so that when the E button 87 is pressed, the Es flap 86 also opens.

The pivoting hollow shafts 121 of the cis flap 33; 131, 31 and 127 of the C sharp key 28; 39 of the D key 38; 120 of the E key 44; 122 of the G sharp flap 30; 113 of the G key 15; 114 of the A key 22 and 123 of the H key 24 are coaxially mounted on the left on the front side of the body 16 and extend longitudinally in bearing blocks 124 by means of solid material shafts (e.g. 31) passing through them.

Each of the flaps mentioned in this description is assigned a tone hole (not shown) in the body 16 or the neck 17, which it covers, even if this is not expressly mentioned.

The various hollow shafts arranged on bolts or solid shafts are clamped as far as necessary by adjusting screws 119. Adjustment screws 130 and 132 are also located on the extension 129 and the ends of the extension 97 and the lever arms 66b, 69b.

Insofar as the arrangement of certain flaps, levers, shafts and bearing blocks is not described in detail here, the arrangement is like that of a saxophone grip system.

Due to the training described, it is possible to use the saxophone grip system essentially on a flute and still have an excellent response to every note, including the high notes and the semitones.

Optionally, the ring buttons for D38, E44, G15, A22 can also be replaced by full flaps (flap covers with cushions).

• tiefes C: Drücken der C-Taste 34, der D-Taste 38, der E-Taste 44, der F-Taste 46, der G-Taste 15, der A-Taste 22 und der H-Taste 24 ;
• tiefes Cis: wie tiefes C, zusätzlich jedoch Drücken der Cis-Gis-Taste 28;
• tiefes D : Drücken der D-Taste 38, der E-Taste 44, der F-Taste 46, der G-Taste 15, der A-Taste 22 und der H-Taste 24 ;
• tiefes Dis: wie tiefes D, jedoch zusätzliches Drücken der Dis-Taste 41.
• tiefes E: Drücken der E-Taste 44, der F-Taste 46, der G-Taste 15, der A-Taste 22 und der H-Taste 24.
• tiefes F: Drücken der F-Taste 46, der G-Taste 15, der A-Taste 22 und der H-Taste 24.
• tiefes Fis: Drücken der E-Taste 44, der G-Taste 15, der A-Taste 22 und der H-Taste 24.
• tiefes G: Drücken der G-Taste 15, der A-Taste 22 und der H-Taste 24.
• tiefes Gis : wie tiefes G, zusätzlich Drücken der Gis-Cis-Taste 28.
• tiefes A: Drücken der A-Taste 22 und der H-Taste 24.
• tiefes B^b : 1. Wie tiefes A, zusätzlich Drücken der B^b-Taste 73.

The various tones to be played with the flute according to the invention can be generated by pressing the following keys:

• lower C: pressing the C key 34, the D key 38, the E key 44, the F key 46, the G key 15, the A key 22 and the H key 24;
• deep C sharp: like deep C, but additionally pressing the C sharp key 28;
• lower D: pressing the D key 38, the E key 44, the F key 46, the G key 15, the A key 22 and the H key 24;
• deep Dis: like deep D, but additionally pressing the Dis button 41.
• Lower E: Press the E key 44, the F key 46, the G key 15, the A key 22 and the H key 24.
• Low F: Press the F key 46, the G key 15, the A key 22 and the H key 24.
• Deep F sharp: Press the E key 44, the G key 15, the A key 22 and the H key 24.
• Low G: Press the G key 15, the A key 22 and the H key 24.
• deep G sharp: like deep G, additionally pressing the G sharp cis key 28.
• Lower A: Press the A button 22 and the H button 24.
• Deep B ^b : 1. As deep A, additionally pressing the B ^b key 73.

• tiefes H : Drücken der H-Taste 24.
• mittleres C : Drücken der A-Taste 22.
• mittleres Cis : 1. Keine Taste gedrückt.

2.Press the F key 46, the G key 15 and the H key 24.

• Low H: Press the H button 24.
• middle C: press the A button 22.
• middle C sharp: 1. No key pressed.

• mittleres D : Wie tiefes D, zusätzlich Drücken der Oktavtaste 12.
• mittleres Dis : Wie tiefes Dis, zusätzlich Drücken der Oktavtaste 12.
• mittleres E : Wie tiefes E, zusätzlich Drücken der Oktavtaste 12.
• mittleres F: Wie tiefes F, zusätzlich Drücken der Oktavtaste 12.
• mittleres Fis : Wie tiefes Fis, zusätzlich Drücken der Oktavtaste 12.
• mittleres G : Wie tiefes G, zusätzlich Drücken der Oktavtaste 12.
• mittleres Gis: Wie tiefes Gis, zusätzlich Drücken der Oktavtaste 12.
• mittleres A: Wie tiefes A, zusätzlich Drücken der Oktavtaste 12.
• mittleres B^b :1. Wie tiefes B^b, zusätzlich Drücken der Oktavtaste 12.

2. Like deep c sharp, additional octave key 12.

• middle D: like lower D, additionally pressing the octave key 12.
• middle Dis: Like deep Dis, additionally pressing the octave button 12.
• middle E: like lower E, additionally pressing the octave key 12.
• middle F: like lower F, additionally pressing the octave key 12.
• middle F sharp: like deep F sharp, additionally pressing the octave key 12.
• middle G: like low G, additionally pressing the octave key 12.
• middle G sharp: like deep G sharp, additionally pressing the octave key 12.
• middle A: like lower A, additionally pressing the octave key 12.
• middle B ^b : 1. Like deep B ^b , additionally pressing octave key 12.

• hohes C : 1. Wie mittleres C, zusätzlich Drücken der Oktavtaste 12.

2.Press the F key 46 and the H key 24. Middle H: Like low H, additionally press the octave key 12.

• High C: 1. Like middle C, additionally pressing the octave key 12.

• hohes Cis : 1. Wie mittleres Cis, zusätzlich Drücken der Oktavtaste 12.

2.Press the H key 24, the F key 46, the E key 44, the D key 38, the Dis key 41.

• High C sharp: 1. Like middle C sharp, additionally pressing the octave key 12.

• hohes D: 1. Drücken der Hoch-D-Taste 77 und Oktavtaste 12.

2.Press the G key 15, the F key 46, the E key 44, and the octave key 12.

• High D: 1. Press the high D key 77 and octave key 12.

• hohes Dis: 1. Drücken der Hoch-D-Taste 77, der Hoch-Dis-Taste 82 und der Oktavtaste 12.

2.Press the G key 15, the E key 44 and the octave key 12.

• High Dis: 1. Press the high D key 77, the high dis key 82 and the octave key 12.

2.Press the G key 15 and the octave key 12.

3. As under 2., additionally C key 34. high E: 1. Press the high E key 44 and the octave key 12 and E key 44.

• hohes F: 1. Drücken der Hoch-E-Taste 87, der D-Taste 38, der A-Taste 22 und der Oktavtaste 12.

2. As under 1., additionally high D key 77 and high dis key 82.

• High F: 1. Press the high E key 87, the D key 38, the A key 22 and the octave key 12.

2.Press the high D key 77, the high dis key 82, the high E key 87 and the D key 38, octave key 12.

3. Press the up E button 87 and D button 38.

The invention thus creates a flute with the mouthpiece, shape and dimensions of a recorder, but which is provided with a flap mechanism similar to that of the saxophone, but the keys, flaps and tone holes are adapted to the special features of the sound production of a recorder.

• leicht spielbares chromatisches Griffsystem (ähnlich dem Saxophon, aber doch speziell an die Erfordernisse einer Blockflöte angepaßt) ;
• leichte Ansprache im gesamten Tonumfang durch das neuartige Oktavklappensystem ;
• saubere Intonation im gesamten Tonumfang durch automatische Klappenkombinationen ;
• es eröffnet sich der Blockflöte erstmalig ein unbegrenzter Anwendungsbereich für alle Musikrichtungen und Schwierigkeitsgrade ;
• Saxophonisten sind sofort in der Lage, diese Flöte zu spielen. Umgekehrt kann das auf dieser Flöte Erlemte sofort auf ein Saxophon umgesetzt werden.

The advantages are summarized:

• easily playable chromatic grip system (similar to the saxophone, but especially adapted to the requirements of a recorder);
• easy response in the entire range thanks to the new octave key system;
• clean intonation across the entire range thanks to automatic key combinations;
• for the first time, the recorder opens up an unlimited area of application for all types of music and levels of difficulty;
• Saxophonists are immediately able to play this flute. Conversely, what was learned on this flute can be immediately translated to a saxophone.

Claims (14)

1. Flute having the mouthpiece, the shape and the dimensions of a recorder with the tone holes being at least partially closable by keys actuatable via button-operated levers, characterised in that there are provided one after the other on the front side and starting from the lower end a C-button (34), a D-button (38), a D-sharp-button (41), an E-button (44), and an F-button (46), on the right hand side a B-button (73), furthermore on the front side a G-button (15), a C-sharp-G-sharp-button (28) displaced sideways to the left, an A-button (22), and an H-button (24) and, on the rear side, an octave key button (12) and also keys associated therewith and ton holes (13, 14, 35, 42, 43, 45, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52) associated with the keys and buttons and provided in a saxophone arrangement, however with the following changes being effected relative to saxophone arrangement :

a) The C-button (34) which acts on the C-key (35) also acts on a C-sharp-key (33) via a shaft (36) and a lever (37) such that the C-sharp-key is opened against a closing spring force when the C-key (35) is open but is however closed when the C-button (34) is depressed ;

b) the D-button (38) is connected with an auxiliary key (40) which lies at the same level as a D-sharp key (42), which is biased into the closing direction and is acted on by the D-sharp button (41), and is synchronously opened and closed with the D-button (38) ;

c) between an F-key (47) and an E-tone hole (45), there is provided a further auxiliary key (68) which is biased by spring force into the open position and opens and closes together with the F-key (47) ;

d) an auxiliary key (64) which is biased by spring force into the open position is provided at the level of the F-key (47) on the side of the body (16) and is pressed into the closed position when the G-button (15) is depressed ;

e) the B-key (49) is only opened on actuating the B-button (73) but is otherwise closed.

2. Flute in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that an additional key (19) which is biased into the opening direction is arranged at one side of the body (16) between the G- and the A-buttons (15, 22) said additional key (19) being released when the octave key button (12) is depressed and the H-button (24) is not depressed, but being closed when the octave key button (12) is not depressed or when the H-key (24) is depressed.

3. Flute in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the additional key (19) is provided at the left side of the body (16).

4. Flute in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the combined G-sharp-C-sharp-button (28) is arranged beneath the G-button (15) at the side in the area of the left hand little finger in such a way that it acts via a lever (29) on a G-sharp key (30) which is resiliently biased into the opening direction so that the latter is released when the G-sharp-C-sharp button (28) is depressed and the F-button (46) is open, but is otherwise closed, and acts via a shaft (31) and a lever (32) on the C-sharp key (33) which is biased into the closing direction in such a way that the latter is opened against the spring force when the G-sharp-C-sharp button (28) is depressed.

5. Flute in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the further auxiliary key (68) arranged between the F-key (47) and the E-tone hole (45) is pivotally arranged on a rocker lever (69) about a shaft (70) which extends at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the body (16) and tangential thereto on the right hand side of the body (16), with a lever arm (69b) remote from the auxiliary key (68) being engaged from below by a lever (71) which is rotatably fixedly connected with a longitudinal shaft (72), which in turn is rotationally connected with the F-button (46).

6. Flute in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the auxiliary key (64) is provided at the left hand side of the body and is pivotable via a rocker lever (66) about a shaft (65) which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the body (16) and tangential to the body, wherein the lever arm (66b) remote from the auxiliary key (64) is engaged from underneath by a lever (67) which is rotatably fixedly connected with the G-button (15).

7. Flute in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that it consists of an elongate and preferably straight body (16) of tubular shape, and of a preferably straight throat (17) in one piece with the mouthpiece (18) which can be plugged together with the straight body (16), with the material for the body and for the throat with mouthpiece preferably being caoutchouc, metal or wood.

8. Flute in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the octave key button (12) is arranged directly above a support projection (11) provided for the left thumb on the near side, with the octave key button (12) acting via a rocket lever (53) on two octave keys (13, 14) which are arranged spaced apart from one another and which are simultaneously so connected via a G-octave key lever (54) with the G-button (15) that when the octave key button (12) and the G-button (15) are depressed only the lower octave keys (13) arranged on the body (16) is in the open position, and that if the G-button (15) is not depressed only the upper octave key (14) arranged on the throat (17) is in the open position.

9. Flute in accordance with claim 8, characterised in that the A-button (22) is also connected with the octave keys (13, 14) via a corresponding A-octave lever (55) in such a way that when the G-button (15) is depressed, but not the A-button (22), the octave key (13) arranged on the body (16) is closed but the other octave key (14) is open.

10. Flute in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper octave key (14) consists of two individual caps (14a, 14b) which each cooperate with a respective hole in a throat (17) and which are arranged a small distance above one another and jointly actuated.

11. Flute in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the octave key-button (12) is connected with the additional key (19) which is arranged at the side on the body (16) between the G-button (15) and the A-button (22) via a shaft (20) which extends in the longitudinal direction and which preferably passes through a hollow shaft (63) for the actuation of the one octave key (13) by means of a lever (59, 60) which is rotationally fixedly connected thereto, and via a lever (21) which branches off therefrom at right angles thereto.

12. Flute in accordance with claim 11, characterised in that the additional key (19) is acted on by the lever arm (23a) of a rocker lever (23), the other lever arm (23b) of which is so connected to a lever (25) which branches off from the H-button (24) that when the H-button is depressed the additional key (19) is necessarily closed against the opening spring force.

13. Flute in accordance with claim 12, characterised in that the rocker lever (23) is pivotally connected to end bearings (27a, 27b) secured to the body (16) by means of a transverse shaft (26) which is arranged at a left hand side of the body at right angles to the longitudinal axis and tangential to the body (16).

14. Flute in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an E-button (87) is located at the level of the right hand index finger and additionally closes an F-sharp key (48) in such a way that when the E-button (87) is depressed the F-sharp key (48) is also closed.

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