Members of the western concert flute family or private collections. This distinctive sounding instrument is rarely found at present. A few American publications for flute choir currently include a part for an E (soprano) flute, an instrument pitched a minor third higher than the standard C flute. In these publications, an alternative part is provided either for the C flute or for the piccolo. The standard concert flute is by far the most common member of the flute family. The flute is used in many ensembles including concert bands, orchestras, flute ensembles, occasionally jazz bands and big bands. The instrument is pitched in C and has a
Western concert flute Blavet, Vivaldi, and Handel. Because of the works of such composers, the flute became popular as a solo instrument. However, there were few professional flutists who had the flute as their main instrument; many had the oboe. In 1707, Jacques Martin Hotteterre wrote the first method book on playing the flute: "Principes de la flûte traversière". The 1730s brought an increase in operatic and chamber music feature of flutes. The end of this era found the publication of "Essay of a Method of Playing the Transverse Flute" by Quantz. The orchestras formed in the last half of the 18th century