The subcontrabass flutes are members of the
Western concert flute family. Built in two sizes, the instrument in G or F, also known as the double contra-alto flute, has of tubing, while the larger instrument in C, also known as the double contrabass flute or octobass flute, has tubing long, and is the second largest instrument of the family after the
hyperbass flute.
The subcontrabass flute in G is pitched a fourth below the
contrabass flute in C, and two octaves below the
alto flute
The alto flute is an instrument in the Western concert flute family, pitched below the standard C flute and the uncommon flûte d'amour. It is the third most common member of its family after the standard C flute and the piccolo. It is chara ...
; it is sometimes built a whole tone lower in F. The subcontrabass flute in C is a full octave below the contrabass flute, hence its "double contrabass" name.
Its lowest note is C, the lowest C on the piano.
The subcontrabass flutes are rarely used outside of flute choirs. Their projection is limited without
amplification, especially in larger ensembles.
At present, they are only available as a custom order from specialty makers
Eva Kingma or
Kotato and Fukushima.
[Instruments in G or F:
Instruments in C:
] Higher quality instruments are made of silver- or chrome-plated metal, usually brass. Dutch maker Jelle Hogenhuis built subcontrabass flutes in metal, and offered a version built using
polypropylene
Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications. It is produced via chain-growth polymerization from the monomer Propene, propylene.
Polypropylene belongs to the group of polyolefin ...
plastic tubing, which was cheaper and half the weight.
Compositions
* "And the Giant Began to Dance..." (2009) from the album ''Below: Music for Low Flutes'' by Peter Sheridan
References
External links
* YouTube
"The Majestic Kingma Double Contrabass Flute at The Library of Congress" with
Matthaias Ziegler and
Eva Kingma, July 2024.
*
Side-blown flutes
Contrabass instruments
{{Flute-stub