Flute

IT: flauto – FR: flûte – GER: Flöte

Properties

The flute is a cylindrical metal pipe 26-1/2 inches long with a 3/4-inch inner diameter. The player blows across the side hole (or embouchure) to cause the air in the pipe to vibrate. Pitches in the lowest octave are fundamentals on the flute.

Range and Natural Dynamics

FIGURE 3.3 Flute range

The compass is from c1 upwards approximately three octaves, getting progressively brighter and more powerful. Most flutes have a foot key that adds 2 inches in length, enabling them to sound the b below c1.

Tone Quality

The flute’s pure tone quality, lacking in overtones, allows it to combine well with other instruments. Lower notes are breathy and upper notes penetrating; the range is otherwise quite even. It is easily covered unless exposed; notes in the lower octave may be overpowered when combined with several instruments pitched lower. Having a unique timbre, the flute is effectively used in its very low range when it does not have to compete with other instruments to be heard.

Technical Abilities

The flute is the most agile wind instrument, capable of wide leaps, filigree, arpeggios, trills, and rapid repeated notes. It requires a great deal of breath support and lip tension, so frequent rests are important for best results. Double-, triple-, and flutter tonguing (like a rolled "r") are possible. Unplayable trills and tremolos are shown below:

FIGURE 3.4 Unplayable trills

Piccolo

IT: ottavino

Half the size of the flute, the piccolo sounds an octave higher. The lowest note available is d¹, and in the upper register it can become a shrill whistle.

Alto flute

Approximately one-third larger than the flute, the alto flute sounds a perfect fourth lower than written. It is sometimes called the G flute because the g below middle C is the pitch that sounds when a written c¹ is played.