Rare

 It’s not often that a sustained note followed by a trill, played on a flute, makes headlines around the world. Most of the story ran as a human interest item. Conservative publications in the United States expressed outrage. Andrew McCarthy, a Republican, was quoted as saying that all those involved “should be deported.” And that’s a mild example.

On September 27, 2022, Grammy-award-winning American singer and rapper Lizzo’s performance was interrupted when Carol Lynn Ward-Bamford, curator of the Library of Congress flute collection, walked on stage with a 200-year-old flute. “I want everybody to make some noise for James Madison’s crystal flute, y’all!” Lizzo yelled before making history.

It is believed that President Madison’s flute has seldom, if ever, been played. The flute was made by Claude Laurent of Paris in 1813. Madison never acknowledged the gift. “Mr. President, I took the liberty of sending to you about three years ago a crystal flute of my invention. Please allow me to express to you the desire that I would have to learn if it has reached you and if this feeble homage to my industry has been agreeable to you,” Laurent wrote.

The flute is reputed to be one of two items rescued by Dolley Madison when the British invaded Washington in 1812. The other item was a portrait of George Washington. The Library of Congress has the world’s largest collection of flutes—more than 18,000. To publicise the collection and popularise it with younger generations, the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, invited Lizzo to inspect the flutes. Besides being a rap star known for her twerking, Lizzo is a classically trained flutist.

When Lizzo asked if she could play the Madison flute at her upcoming Washington concert, the custodians readily agreed. Elaborate security measures were put in place, and Lizzo was asked to only play the instrument for a few seconds. The reasonss that those few seconds resonated around the world are profound and go beyond the age and value of the instrument.