Fingering Chart from the St Ninians Manuscript


This chart comes from the St Ninians Manuscript, National Library of Scotland MS.9861, from the late 18th century. It's for a one-key flute; the chart is written for a closed-standing key, and I've reversed this, indicating which holes are closed rather than which keys are pressed down. (The sign on this key for the high C sharp is different from the others - a vertical line rather than a cross - which may indicate it's optional).

The note names are those of ABC.

 D  123 4567
_E  123 456-
 E  123 45-7
 F  123 4-67
^F  123 4---
 G  123 ----
^G  12- 4567
 A  12- ----
_B  1-3 4-67
 B  1-- ----
 c  -23 ----
^c  --- 4567
 d  -23 4567
_e  -23 456-
 e  123 45-7
 f  123 4-67
^f  123 4---
 g  123 ----
^g  12- 4---
 a  12- ----
_b  1-3 4--7
 b  1-- ----
 c' -2- 45--
^c' -23 4--7
 d' -23 ----
 e' 12- 4567

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Old Scottish Flute Music
Copyright © 2003, Jack Campin