Woodwind | |
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Other names | Czakan, Csákány, Tsákány, Flûte douce |
Classification |
|
Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 421.221.12 (Flute with internal duct and finger holes) |
Inventor(s) | Anton Heberle? |
Developed | c.1806 from the recorder and Eastern European folk flutes |
Playing range | |
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Related instruments | |
The csakan is a type of woodwind instrument that was popular in Austria-Hungary in the 19th century.[1]
A type of duct flute, the csakan was originally a recorder crafted in the shape of a walking stick with a mouthpiece in the handle, reflecting the design of Hungarian war hammers which had been converted into flutes.[1][2] From the 1820s, a new design appeared, which was in the shape of an oboe or clarinet.[1][3]
The csakan is a transposing instrument in A-flat although it could also be considered a transposing instrument in A when used with guitars which were almost always tuned a semitone down when accompanying the csakan.[4] Modern manufacturers refer to it as "the Romantic recorder".[5]
Octaving is achieved on the csakan in the same manner as the recorder, that is by partially opening the thumb hole to allow it to act as a register vent. However, csakans were sometimes equipped with a removable bushing for the thumbhole which would create the correct opening size with the thumb removed from the hole. This necessitates the use of overblown fingerings for C♯5 and D5 which would otherwise be produced from the thumb hole.[4]