Alto flute Alto flute The alto flute is a type of Western concert flute, a musical instrument in the woodwind family. It is the next extension downward of the C flute after the flûte d'amour. It is characterized by its distinct, mellow tone in the lower portion of its range. It is a transposing instrument in G and, like the piccolo and bass flute, uses the same fingerings as the C flute. The tube of the alto flute is considerably thicker and longer than a C flute and requires more breath from the player. This gives it a greater dynamic presence in
Bass flute Dutch flute maker Eva Kingma has created a vertical design for the bass flute which allows the weight of the instrument to be supported by the floor. Many composers are beginning to write more pieces for the bass flute. These include Katherine Hoover's "Two for Two", Bill Douglas's "Karuna", Sophie Lacaze's "Archelogos II", Mike Mower's "Obstinato" and "Scareso", Gary Schocker's "A Small Sonata for a Large Flute", Lorenzo Ferrero's "Ellipse" and "Shadow Lines", Sonny Burnett's "Stone Suite", Catherine McMichael's "Baikal Journey" and Ennio Morricone's "Secrets of the Sahara". Other important works include Tristan Murail's "Ethers" for solo bass flute and