In the late 20th century, the Celtic flute experienced a massive renaissance. Pioneers like Matt Molloy (of The Chieftains) and Kevin Crawford (of Lúnasa) pushed the technical boundaries of the instrument, demonstrating that it could hold its own as a lead solo instrument.
La flûte celtique a influencé de nombreux genres musicaux, notamment la musique folk, la musique celtique contemporaine et la musique new-age. Des artistes tels que James Galway, John Renbourn et Didier Malka ont popularisé la flûte celtique à travers leurs enregistrements et leurs concerts.
Contrary to popular belief, the Celtic flute is not an ancient instrument indigenous to the Celts. Its history is tied to the evolution of the Western concert flute. In the mid-19th century, the modern Boehm system flute—made of metal with complex key mechanisms—began to replace the older, simple-system wooden flutes.
