While written works of nineteenth and early twentieth century flute virtuosos remain a foundation of modern flute study, and despite a recent proliferation of historical recordings reissued on CD, much less is known about their recorded legacy. The recordings, now more accessible, allow increased awareness of these musicians, their repertoire, and their performance styles. The availability of these compact discs and their importance shows the need for a thorough discography of the flute.

The Flute on Record: The 78 rpm Era serves as a comprehensive and practical guide to the wealth of flute recordings made between 1889 and 1954. The discography lists commercial, private, and unpublished recordings, on cylinders and 78 rpm discs, for over two hundred national and international flutists. Recordings are logged in meticulous detail, including dates and locations, matrix numbers, domestic and foreign catalog numbers, and corresponding long-playing reissues. Solo works, chamber music, and vocal and orchestral works that feature flute passages are addressed in the citations, and in complete appendixes of anonymous recordings. Details about broadcast transcriptions, live performance transcriptions, and films are also included. Notes and bibliographies offer background information on additional recordings and repertory, and provide a link between modern study and historical evidence. With a list of record labels and numerical series, as well as indexes for composers and additional musicians, this important resource is accessible to researchers, collectors, and general users alike. The various components combine to create a fuller understanding of the importance of these classic recordings.