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Flutist or flautist?

You say potato, I say potahto, you say flutist, I say flautist.  Well, actually I don’t say flautist, and neither do any of the flute players I know.  The Italian word for flute is flauto, and for flutist, flautista, and that’s where “flautist” comes from – although “flutist” is in fact an older term. Some sources say that “flautist” is more of a British usage, and “flutist” American.  That may be true, but I think there’s something else going on:  I think “flautist” is somehow a fancier-sounding term than “flutist” – a more “high-brow-sounding” term.  And since classical music has long been saddled with too much unfortunate high-brow baggage, many non-musicians fear that they may sound ignorant and uncultured if they choose the simple “flutist” over the fancy “flautist.”  The result is often the flutist-flautist paralysis syndrome – which can get very uncomfortable if a friendly flute player doesn’t arrive on the scene to clear things up.  But wait… what about pianist—pee-anist? Well, that one’s up to you. But don’t worry – you’re safe either way.

A Minute with Miles - a production of ETV Radio made possible by the JM Smith Corporation .

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Miles Hoffman is the founder and violist of the American Chamber Players, with whom he regularly tours the United States, and the Virginia I. Norman Distinguished Visiting Professor of Chamber Music at the Schwob School of Music, in Columbus, Georgia. He has appeared as viola soloist with orchestras across the country, and his solo performances on YouTube have received well over 700,000 views.