Flûte d'amour
Encyclopedia
The flûte d'amour or flauto d'amore is pitched in either A or B and is intermediate in size between the modern C concert flute and the alto flute
in G. It is the mezzo soprano member of the flute
family. It is also sometimes called a tenor flute.
Unlike the alto flute, the ratio between the bore diameter and tube length is much the same as in the concert flute, which allows it to have a mellower tone colour but without losing any facility in the top octave. Its lowest sounding note is B (or A).
In contrast, the alto flute has a wider bore in relation to its tube length. This is to provide it with extra power in the bottom register, but this causes the alto problems with intonation and facility of sounding some notes in its top register.
Some simple flûtes d'amour were also made in the key of A in the late eighteenth century.
When used in jazz, the B version is usually implemented to complement the tenor saxophone
and clarinet
, as both are in B.
Alto flute
The alto flute is a type of Western concert flute, a musical instrument in the woodwind family. It is the next extension downward of the C flute after the flûte d'amour. It is characterized by its distinct, mellow tone in the lower portion of its range...
in G. It is the mezzo soprano member of the flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
family. It is also sometimes called a tenor flute.
Unlike the alto flute, the ratio between the bore diameter and tube length is much the same as in the concert flute, which allows it to have a mellower tone colour but without losing any facility in the top octave. Its lowest sounding note is B (or A).
In contrast, the alto flute has a wider bore in relation to its tube length. This is to provide it with extra power in the bottom register, but this causes the alto problems with intonation and facility of sounding some notes in its top register.
Some simple flûtes d'amour were also made in the key of A in the late eighteenth century.
When used in jazz, the B version is usually implemented to complement the tenor saxophone
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
and clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, as both are in B.