The video features paiges subcontrabass and double contrabass flutes. A complete guide for students and performers oxford. Contrabass flutes sort by best selling alphabetically, az alphabetically, za price, low to high price, high to low date, new to old date, old to new grid view list view. Based on careful study of primary sources musical compositions, patents, memoirs and diaries, and unfettered access to historical instruments themselves.
This is a an extremely large flute with very large fingering holes, and requires significant breath control. It is seen often in flute ensembles, however it is recently being used in solo and chamber. It also is an amazing instrument with a full three octave range plus. Kotato and fukushima produce an instrument that they call bass flute in f, which some people refer to as a contra alto flute. The book ends with a comprehensive catalog of solo and chamber repertoire, and includes appendices with fingering charts as well as lists of current flute manufacturers, repair shops, sources for flute music, books, flute clubs and. The contrabass flute was designed to perform as a solo instrument as well as a bass instrument in choirs. This instrument will be much louder than you think. As the design greatly developed since those early days, and more builders around the world have been added, the contrabass flute has come into its own as a unique instrument to enjoy and explore. If you play alto or bass flute these books belong on your bookshelf and your music stand.
Jonah thompson flutes native american flutes cedar flutes. The eb flute is occasionally used in flute ensemble music and one occasionally stumbles across a db piccolo or music written for one. Sep, 2012 featuring conductor paige dashner long and the florida flute orchestra, playing tico tico no fuba. This flute is handcrafted in spanish cedar which is a softwood that gives the flute a warm tonal voice. Prior to the mid20th century, the term bass flute was sometimes used, especially in great britain, to refer to the alto. I highly recommend the flutes of eva kingma, try one and you will fall in love. Clarinet books woodwind resources research guides at.
The bass flute was for many years the lowest member of the flute family. It is the first history to illustrate the relationship that has bound the instrument, its music, and performance technique together through eight. Though for many pieces, the part is either a duplicate or simplification of the bass flute part, some of the newest repertoire includes an independent contrabass flute part. Bass flutes are available from a number of makers, including eva kingma, gemeinhardt and emerson. Jonah thompson flutes are genuine navajo native american flutes with hand carved indian fetish wind blocks.
It is the first history to illustrate the relationship that has bound the instrument, its music, and performance technique together through eight centuries of shifting musical tastes and practices. Hogenhuis flutes contrabass flutes, and other low flutes. The contrabass flute is one of the rarer members of the flute family. In addition to normal bass flutes, they produce contrabass and contraalto flutes these sound an octave below the normal bass and alto and also a. Dec 27, 2015 this video showcases my beautiful kingma contrabass flute and provides a composers toolkit, designed to fire the imagination of creative writers interested in these new sounds. Photo 1 photo 2 photo 3 triple chambered double drone g minor flute, black limba with accents of purpleheart. The construction of harmony flutes varies quite a lot more than with soprano flutes. Is it possible to make a contrabass flute with pvc.
The flute is the oldest musical instrument dating back 50,000 years. We do not recommend bass flutes for anyone with small hands or a beginner player. Flute, woodwind quartet, woodwind quintet, woodwind choir or ensemble, choir, concert band, marching band, piccolo 1, piccolo 2, or g soprano flute, c flute 1, c flute 2, c flute 3, c flute 4, c flute 5, alto flute in g 1, alto flute in g 2, bass flute, and contra bass flute intermediate digital download composed by k king. Djalma juilliot handmade french flute sn 1832 gorgeous. Best selling, alphabetically, az, alphabetically, za, price, low to high. Slick, my kotato contrabass flute, was the first kotato contrabass is this country. They come in as many as eight different sizes and registers. In the extensive analysis of flute literature that follows, toff places individual pieces in historical context. The flute book paperback nancy toff oxford university press. With the increase in available repertoire and the versatility of todays musicians, the use of bass flutes has dramatically increased in recent years. In addition to normal bass flutes, they produce contra bass and contra alto flutes these sound an octave below the normal bass and alto and also a subcontra bass 3 octaves below middle c.
Di zhao vertical contra bass silverplated straight and curved headjoint, silverplated body and mechanism, pointed key arms, ergonomic finger position, pitched two octaves below c flute. The bass flute sounds one octave below the c concert. Recorder, in music, wind instrument of the fipple, or whistle, flute class, closely related to the flageolet. How to play and write for the contrabass flute youtube. Kotato they produce a range of the largest flutes available, and are considered by flutists to be the epitome of unsurpassed quality among bass flutemakers. High spirits contra bass flutes high spirits flutes. The baroque repertory is almost exclusively for treble recorder then called flute, or common flute. Imagine what it does to a flute choir to have this base to it. Detailed history of large clarinets by highly acclaimed expert author and clarinetist. A bass flute is going to use much larger diameter pipe than 34. For more information on paige and her flutes, please vis.
It is in the key of c, pitched one octave below the. For flute players it is a special experience to go as low as the string bass. Some of the less commonly used recorders include the sopranino, great bass, and the contra bass. If you are a beginner or a player of smaller stature, your best bet is to probably choose an alto flute with a curved headjoint such as the 201 series alto flute from pearl. Furthermore, the contrabass flute is being utilized more in the flute choir with most newer pieces including a part for the instrument citation needed. Schiller 200 flute excellent condition includes curvedstraight headjoint curved for beginning player like new condition features. A cello, string, bass, or similar instrument with flute ensemble, can mask the beautiful timbre of the bass flute section and articulates very differently. Bass flute news newspapers books scholar jstor january 2017 learn how and when to remove this template message. The contrabass flute is designed a full two octaves lower than a soprano cflute, which has gentle and warm tone. Please call or email flutacious to check on the full range of bass flutes available from kotato.
Another instrument is the subcontrabass flute in g, pitched one octave below the contraalto flute, or two octaves below the alto flute in g. Teachers and flutists at all levels have praised nancy toffsthe flute book. Teachers and flutists at all levels have praised nancy toffs the flute book. This instrument is typically only used in flute ensembles and as a solo instrument with orchestral backing. Because of the length of its tube approximately 146 cm 57 in, it is usually made with a jshaped head joint, which brings the embouchure hole within reach of the player. New high quality silver plated 16 closed holes c with e key flute. The contrabass flute supports the bass flute section, as well as articulating in a similar manner, creating a very beautiful ensemble sound. Sub bass flute double contra alto or sub contrabass contrabass flute double contrabass these two brobdingnagian flutes i will treat together, and are the lowest flutes out there.
The most popular recorders are the soprano, treble also called alto, tenor, and bass instruments. All were typically of boxwood with six finger holes and no keys, semitones being made by crossfingering uncovering the holes out of sequence, and retained the cylindrical bore of their asiatic bamboo relatives. She marked in her music the page number that the phone books needed to be opened to. Despite its name, its playing range makes it the tenor member of the flute family. History in the 70s and 80s contrabass flutes began to be built in japan and the netherlands, largely for use in flute ensembles around the world. It has more projection than does the bass, so would be more useful in solo passages, but light accompaniment is stressed.
Subsequent chapters look at articulation, double and triple tonguing, and tone with a. Bass flute and contrabass flute pro winds online store. It is in the key of c, pitched one octave below the concert flute. It is pitched exactly two octaves lower than the standard western concert flute, and is played by blowing air across the embouchure hole. Native flutes are perfect for meditation, dance or decoration. To achieve this the diameter of the flute is wider than average. A modern historical summary of the flute and its music, by howard mayer brown, jeremy montagu, ardal powell, and jaap frank, appears in the new second edition of the new grove dictionary of music and musicians. The contra bass is impressive and is a regular part of my recording projects filling the role of a cello or bass. I scheduled an appointment to try out the instrument and the rest is history. After all, unless you visit the shop, you cannot play the flute and examine it from every angle. Paiges flute ensembles utilize her extensive flute collection including piccolo, eb soprano flute, concert flute, bb flute damour, alto flute in g, bass flute, contrabass flute, the kingma sub contrabass flute in gone of three in the world, and the kotato double contrabass fluteone of four in the world. High spirits contra bass, key of g, spanish cedar, 2015 design.
Devin flung a desperate look over his shoulder, saw hewet fending off two men behind him, and looked ahead in time to see ten men in light armor ride out of the trees up ahead and drive straight for him. Mopane flute wood headjointeva aralikatti handmademint conditionnever. I have seen bass and contrabass flutes and whistles made from pvc on that site. However, in recent years the rise in popularity of flute choirs and developments in low flute design have resulted in the addition of contrabass and subcontrabass models in g and c. Contra bass a, hand made in the usa from spanish cedar. Wooden flute high spirits contra bass, a spanish cedar high. Its not just a matter of making it longer, there are many relationships to keep in mind. For an extensive list of repertoire for bass flute and contrabass flute see. On the other hand, if you are a stronger or more experienced player, a straight headjoint such as the one on the yfla421 professional from yamaha will work well for you.
These include both original works and arrangements where the bass flute is. From the clarinet damour to the contra bass albert r. Flute, woodwind choir or ensemble, flute choir, c flute, alto flute, bass flute, contrabass flute, contra flute intermediate digital download by garth brooks. Welcome to, a collection of links and information related to this amazing instrument ive been playing the contrabass flute for around 25 years and have come to love its singing 3rd register, velvety middle octave and fat low bass tones. Kingma bass flutes are renowned worldwide for their flexibility, response and power over all registers. Contra bass d minor, spanish cedar with accents of eastern red cedar and ebony. Debussys serenade for flute, alto flute, and baritone flute in. These instruments, once part of military bands, are no longer standard members of the flute family. Navajo flutes are the pine and cedar flutes that are so popular in the southwest.
Pearls contrabass flute has nice 3 rd octave and wide range which allows the pleasure playing in both solo and flute choir settings. Purchased in 1991 at the national flute association convention in washington, dc, i have had the pleasure of performing with this instrument for over 15 years. Duets between either the tenor or bass are quite effective. I have seen bass and contra bass flutes and whistles made from pvc on that site. This book tells the story of the flute in the musical life of europe and north america from the twelfth century to the present day.
They have become known for their excellent scale, balance, and tone. The contrabass flute is the same pitch as the contrabassoon. Perfect for someone who doesnt want the stress of holding up a bass flute. Featuring conductor paige dashner long and the florida flute orchestra, playing tico tico no fuba. Dec 17, 20 visit for lots of info on pvc flutes and their construction. The jupiter flutes have established a tradition of providing excellent performance quality instruments. The modern bass flute in c not to be confused with the renaissance or baroqueera bass flute pitched in g the counterpart of the modern alto flute is usually made with a jshaped head joint, which brings the embouchure hole within reach. Native american flutes, flute accessories and flute music. A complete guide for students and performers by nancy toff, the man with the golden flute. Our contra bass flute in the key of a is our lowest toned flute in the key of a that we make. Arranged by raymichael kauffman a do ray me flute studio. Alto and bass flute method books by chris potter flute journal. Native american style flutes, protective flute and drum carrying cases, native american flute history resources, bird whistlescalls, native american flute stands, music cds, combination flute packages, painted and beaded leather flute wraps, microphones, flute jewelry, how to make a native american flute instructional books and videos, how to. With a range one octave below the contrabass flute, two octaves below the bass flute and three octaves below the concert flute, this flute is truly the foundation of the flute family.
One is a contrabass flute in g, pitched a fourth below the bass flute and an octave lower than the alto flute. More information flute journal contributor mike chalmers, himself a bass flutist with penn flutes and the international jazz flute big band, among other groups, has also been working with chris potters bass flute method. Sep 14, 2015 therefore, if i had to choose only one flute below the tenor, i would prefer the bass over the baritone, but if both are available, then more interesting passages can be concocted. The book s author nancy toff does an exceptional job covering the instruments itself what is a flute, how to select a proper flute, care and maintenance, history and many of the other instruments considered to be in the flute family. Important condition for this is that the flute plays well in the bottom register, that it produces more decibels than other flutes. As for the bass flute, potters new book is all there is.
The first instruction books were written by the german theorist sebastian virdung 1511 and the italian instrumentalist silvestro ganassi 1535. Perhaps the best information available concerning the history of the string bass is recorded by musical theorist michael praetorius, who wrote sintagma musicum 1611620. Category discussion 0 view source history what links here related. The recorder is a 14thcentury improvement upon earlier kindred instruments. Whether its a new solo voice youre pursuing or an opportunity to play in a flute choir, owning an alto and bass brings additional pleasure from playing in a variety of ways. The dimedici jcf contrabass flute extends that same tradition of sound and style into the lowest octave.
His text reveals a gross contra bass geige, which is generally held to have evolved into the modern double bass. The kotato double contrabass flute, one of four in the world, is made of over 18 feet of tubing and stands over 8 feet tall. Like the recorder, whistle, and pan flute, the contrabass flute is a member of the flute family. There also is a history of alto and bass flute, plus composers guidelines and recommended recordings. Recently, archaeologists uncovered a flute from eastern europe believed to be between 35,000 and 50,000 years old made of cave bear bone. Subbass flute double contraalto or subcontrabass contrabass flute double contrabass these two brobdingnagian flutes i will treat together, and are the lowest flutes out there. Most recorders made since their revival in 1919 by the english instrument maker arnold dolmetsch follow the early 18thcentury baroque design. Native american style flute facts and dimensions i know that there are those who would like to have as much information as possible about ancient territories native american style flutes. From the clarinet damour to the contra bass a history of large size clarinets, 17401860 albert r. Henderson has to extend her arm to play the notes on the bottom and how far she has to spread her fingers to cover the holes. To complete our range of instruments, we have developed the pearl contrabass flute.