Alto Flute

[Cecin_Koot]

i have been looking through a book with many instruments in it, and when i get to the woodwind page there is 4 types of flute, piccilo, flute, alto flute and bass flute.  Has anyone here ever played one of these, or seen one of these, or does anyone know how much longer they are compaired to a normal flute

also does anyone know any famous pieces written for an alto flute?

[Bob]

Piccolo is fairly standard.  It's written like a regular flute, but sounds up an 8ve.  Higher level high school band music will sometimes have a piccolo part.  One of the flute players will take it.

The other two I haven't seen much of.  You'd find alto and bass flutes in a flute ensemble for sure.

I think the alto flute is just longer than a regular flute.

I think it's the bass flute that has the neck that curves around -- Looks a little odd.

If you want, I can add your post to the menc website band forum -- it's full of public school music educators.  Want me to?  I'm sure someone there will know a lot more.

[Ed Thomas]

Alto flutes can be either straight or curved.  Bass flutes would be just too dang long if they were straight so are always curved (as far as I know).

https://www.jupitermusic.com/flute_altobass.html

There are better pictures here and there if you search for "alto flute" or "bass flute".  Here is a link for some good answers to an alto flute question:

https://experts.about.com/q/2059/2851910.htm

Here is a picture of a Bass Flute being played and a short description of the flute family:

https://www.svsu.edu/flutee/altobass.html

Some years ago, I did some research on sound modeling and used the flute for a lot  of my study.  It is a very personal and satisfying instrument.  Very.... um... 'pure'?   Acoustically fairly simple and very directly connected to you.  No buzzing lips, no reeds, no mechanics between you and the sound... just you and two holes.  My daughter studied flute in college for a bit, so I got to go to all the flute ensembles.  If you ever get a chance, do that.  Some incredible music is written for flute groups.

[Cecin_Koot]

Yes please I would like it if you could do that

[Cecin_Koot]

Thanks alot for all of this

[pianobabe56]

I've played all four of these. Bass flute and alto flute are exactly the same, though they require a more open throat to play, but I really enjoy the low flute tones. Piccolo I haven't had much opportunity to work with, and I've always had significant problems getting a good tone on it.

[dlu]

OMG!!! Alto Flutes are great instruments! You can hear one in the Rite of Spring (Stravinsky for those not in the know). Do you have a score and recording (of the Rite)?

[Cecin_Koot]

I will try to listen to that.  It would be interesting to hear what it sounds like.  Thanks

[Cecin_Koot]

I heard it.  It sounded quite spooky.  It was at the begining. 

[Cecin_Koot]

So, does anyone else have anything to say about the flute family?  go to the page on Oboe family if you want to write about them. 

[dlu]

I heard it.  It sounded quite spooky.  It was at the begining. 

Oh, the alto flute doesn't come in for a while...The instrument at the very beggining is a bassoon (another one of my favorite instruments) in it's high register. I would reccomend you get a score (you can get a Dover score for cheap) and also a good recording.
DLu

[Cecin_Koot]

ok i will try to find one

[Cecin_Koot]

Come on, dosn't anyone have anything else to say about the flute

[Cecin_Koot]

No, very well, so we have come to a desition that there are 4 flutes in the flute family, piccolo, concert flute, alto flute and bass flute, piccolo is one octave higher then the concert flute, and the bass flute is 1 octave lower.  the alto flute is between the bass and concert flute, a forth lower than the concert flute.  It is my homework to find a score of the rite of spring, i have heard alot about it so it will help me. 

so, who has anything to say about the flute family,   

I remember sitting down a few months ago writing this thread, it has come a long way. 

[clef]

Our school has a nice flute ensumble, I was lucky enough to hear them a few weeks ago...

[Bob]

https://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/texta/Altoflute.html

https://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/textf/Flute.html

It's got some more examples from music.  (and a dorky voice in case you don't know how to pronounce "flute.")  I forgot about Afternoon of a Fawn/Debussy.

John Barnes Chance, a band composer, wrote Incantation and Dance which has a nice low flute sound at the beinning.   D..... C D Eb....