Members of the western concert flute family the instrument is a prototype built for Italian flautist Roberto Fabbriciani by Francesco Romei, a Florentine craftsman. Members of the western concert flute family The western concert flute family has a wide range of instruments. The piccolo is the highest-pitched member of the flute family, with a range an octave above that of the concert flute. It is usually the highest-pitched instrument within orchestras and bands. The piccolo has a stereotype for being difficult to play in tune; its small size makes it difficult to construct an evenly tuned scale. The treble flute is pitched in the key of G,
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