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
The Division Flute The Division Flute The Division Flute is a collection of variations over ground basses and their melodies. "The Division Flute" was first published in 1706/1708 by John Walsh, senior and is based on "The Division Violin" by John Playford. Most of the grounds are anonymous folk songs taken from different styles like the French chaconne or the bel-canto style of the Italian music. The word division basically means variation and describes the ornamentation of the melody. In the 17th century, "divisions" became bravura pieces for violinists in England. The virtuosos simply took a common folk song and improvised about it