Arnold Cooke: Sonatina for Alto Flute and Piano (1985).Kaija Saariaho: Couleurs du vent (1998).Michael Oliva: Les Heures Bleues (2013).Philippe Hersant: Cinq Miniatures (1995).Charles Delaney: Variations on the 'Seeds of Love' (1989).Garth Baxter: Variations on the Willow Tree.The lists also do not generally include works originally written for other instruments and subsequently transcribed, adapted, or arranged for alto flute, unless such piece is very common in the repertory, in which case it is listed with its original instrumentation noted. The following lists are not intended to be complete, but rather to present a representative sampling of the most commonly played and well-known works in the genre. Hence the embouchure-hole sits lower on the lower lip, and the lip-aperture is wider. The embouchure for alto flute is similar to that for C flute, but in proportion to the size of the instrument. However, the straight version is more commonly used for better overall intonation. The curved headjoint is frequently preferred by smaller players because it requires less of a stretch for the arms, and makes the instrument feel lighter by moving the center of gravity nearer to the player. Īlto flute headjoints are built in 'curved' and 'straight' versions. This naming confusion originated in the fact that the modern flute in C is pitched in the same range as the Renaissance tenor flute therefore, a lower pitched instrument would be called a bass. The headjoint may be straight or curved.īritish music that uses this instrument often refers to it as a bass flute, which can be confusing since there is a distinct instrument known by that name. Its range is from G 3 (the G below middle C) to G 6 (4 ledger lines above the treble clef staff) plus an altissimo register stretching to D ♭ 7. It was the favourite flute variety of Theobald Boehm, who perfected its design, and is pitched in the key of G (sounding a perfect fourth lower than written). This gives it a greater dynamic presence in the bottom octave and a half of its range. The bore of the alto flute is considerably larger in diameter and longer than a C flute and requires more breath from the player. It is a transposing instrument in G (a perfect fourth below written C), and uses the same fingerings as the C flute. It is characterized by its rich, mellow tone in the lower portion of its range. It is the third most common member of its family after the standard C flute and the piccolo. The alto flute is an instrument in the Western concert flute family, the second-highest member below the standard C flute after the uncommon flûte d'amour. Woodwind family ( Clarinet, oboe, bassoon).

Used emerson flute