Double contrabass flute

The double contrabass flute (also octobass flute; subcontrabass flute) is the second lowest and largest flute behind the hyperbass flute, with 5.5 metres (18 ft) of tubing (the hyperbass flute, an octave lower, is made from PVC and wood). It is pitched in the key of C, three octaves below the regular flute (two octaves below the bass, and one octave below the contrabass).[1][2] Its lowest note is C1, one octave below the cello's lowest C, which is also the lowest C on the piano. This flute is relatively easy to play in comparison to most other large flutes. Despite the tendency of the larger sizes of flute to be softer than their higher pitched relatives, the double contrabass flute has a relatively powerful tone, although it usually benefits from amplification in ensembles.

Double contrabass flute
Maria Ramey playing a double contrabass flute
Woodwind instrument
Classification
Hornbostel–Sachs classification421.121.12-71
(Side-blown Aerophone with tone holes and keys)
Playing range
{ \new Staff \with { \remove "Time_signature_engraver" } \clef treble \key c \major \cadenzaOn c'1 ^ \markup "written" \glissando c'''1 \tweak font-size #-2 g'''1 \finger \markup \text "poss." \hide r1 \clef bass c,,1 ^ \markup "sounds" \glissando c1 \tweak font-size #-2 g1 \finger \markup \text "poss." }
The double contrabass flute, notated in treble clef, sounds three octaves below written; tessitura is C1–C3.
Related instruments
Flutes:

The Japanese firm of Kotato & Fukushima sell their double contrabass flutes for US$48,000.[3][4] Their main use has been in large flute choirs and occasionally in film scores. The flute maker Eva Kingma introduced her newly developed double contrabass flute at the National Flute Association's 2023 convention in Phoenix, Arizona (August 3-6, 2023); this instrument weighs 10.5 kg (23 lbs.) in total (including its tripod stand).

PVC version

A double contrabass flute constructed of PVC, called a subcontrabass flute by its creator, the Dutch instrument maker Jelle Hogenhuis, has the tubing in a notably different arrangement from its metal counterpart.[5] Although the PVC instrument was designed to be an ensemble instrument, it has also been picked up by solo artists. Compared to metal instruments it has a wider bore producing a broader tone, weighs only 7 kg (15 lb) compared to 15 kg (33 lb) for the brass version, and can be produced relatively quickly and inexpensively.[5][3]

References
  1. Stevens, Cynthia (2011). "Below: Music for Low Flutes". Flutist Quarterly (Summer 2011): 81. ISSN 8756-8667. Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via Gale OneFile.
  2. http://www.contrabass.com/pages/flutes.html
  3. "Kotato Flute". Ogura Flute Works. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  4. "Subcontrabass Flute". Kotato & Fukushima. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  5. "Subcontrabass flute". Hogenhuis Flutes. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2021.

Listening


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