Jacques-Martin Hotteterre

Hottetere was a renowned musical teacher, instrumentalist, and instrument maker from France. He was a bassoonist in The Grand Hautbois at least by 1708 and played flute in the chamber of the King by 1717. He was not only a phenomenal musette player but had a hand in constructing the only three remaining magnificent transverse flutes; they are now in Berlin, Leningrad and Graz and are simply marked, "HOTTETERRE." His "Principes de la flute traversiere" was the first treatise on flute playing in any country and he thoroughly addressed recorder and oboe instruction and early woodwind practice, particularly tonguing and ornamentation. Hotteterre composed the first book of suites for the transverse flute and bass in 1708 as well as unprecedented pieces for one and two unaccompanied flutes. By 1715 he had written multi-movement works for the flute, which, although a combination of shorter pieces similar to an extended suite, were much more likened to sonatas. In another treatise, "L'art de preluder sur la flute traversiere," Hotteterre dealt with improvising preludes on the flute while a later work provided instruction for the musette. His music can be described by its french ornamentation, imagination, high emotive qualities and well formulated construction. ~ Keith Johnson