Contra-alto flute repertoire for bass flute and contrabass flute see: Peter van Munster, "Repertoire Catalogue for Piccolo, Alto Flute and Bass Flute", Roma: Riverberi Sonori, 2004. More and more flute ensemble repertoire is incorporating the contra-alto flute. Typically, it is doubled with the contrabass (and/or bass) flutes, however, in recent years, composers and arrangers such as Alexandra Molnar-Suhajda and Judy Nishimura have been pushing the boundaries of lowness by writing independent parts for the instrument. Contra-alto flute The contra alto flute is in the key of G (or sometimes F), pitched one octave below the alto flute - which is a fourth
Contrabass flute the contrabass retains the facility for trills, as found elsewhere in the flute world. Ease of arpeggiation is moderate and thus equivalent to the rest of the flute family. The upper registers (middle C and above) lack the strength of tone found in its cousins; the strongest register is arguably that between G and G. Though the upper register can lack strength, its sensitivity and lyricism can be used to great effect; and a good instrument can readily reach the high A or B (above middle C). The 'haunting' low register (below G) has similar qualities to the bassoon, and