The flageolet occupies a unique niche in musical history, and this book traces its history from its beginnings to its peak of popularity in the nineteenth century.. The flageolet is a recorder-like instrument whose history may be traced back to the seventeenth century. Predominantly an instrument of the amateur, the flageolet seldom featured in the orchestra but nevertheless occupied a smallbut unique niche in musical history. MacMillan traces the history of the instrument from its origin through to its heyday in England in the nineteenth century. The book is centred on an organological study of the flageolet, coupled with discussion of its repertoire, pedagogy, and place in musical society. It will be of interest to woodwind organologists, players of the flute and recorder, and to those who study the integration of musical instruments and their repertoire in relation to societal aspects of musical practice.