Subcontrabass flute

The subcontrabass flute is a member of the Western concert flute family. With the length of tubing ranging from 15 feet (4.6 m) (when in G) to 18 feet (5.5 m) long (when in C), it is the second largest instrument of the family after the hyperbass flute.^[1]

Subcontrabass flute

Maria Ramey playing an Eva Kingma subcontrabass flute in G
Woodwind instrument
Classification	Transverse flute
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	421.121.12-71 (Side-blown Aerophone with tone holes and keys)
Playing range
The G subcontrabass flute, notated in treble clef, sounds two octaves and a fourth below written; the tessitura is G1–G3. The C double contrabass flute, notated in treble clef, sounds three octaves below written; the tessitura is C1–C3.
Related instruments
Flutes: Piccolo Treble Soprano C flute Flûte d'amour Alto Bass Contra-alto Contrabass Subcontrabass Hyperbass

Maria Ramey playing a double contrabass flute

Subcontrabass flutes are made either in the key of G (pitched a fourth below the contrabass flute in C and two octaves below the alto flute in G) where it known as the double contra-alto flute or in F (pitched a fifth below the contrabass flute in C). Another type of subcontrabass flute is in C (an octave below the contrabass flute) and is commonly known as the double contrabass flute or octobass flute.^[2][3]

The subcontrabass flute is rarely used outside of flute ensembles. At present, the subcontrabass flute is only available as custom order from specialty makers such as Eva Kingma or Kotato and Fukushima. Higher quality instruments are made of silver- or chrome-plated metal, although polyvinyl is also commonly used.^[4]

Compositions

"And the Giant Began to Dance..." (2009) from the album Below: Music for Low Flutes by Peter Sheridan^[5]

References

1. Pinksterboer, Hugo (2009). Tipbook Flute and Piccolo: The Complete Guide (Third ed.). Hal Leonard. p. 143. ISBN 978-1-42346-525-6. OCLC 316826005.
2. Miller, R. J. (2015). Contemporary Orchestration: A Practical Guide to Instruments, Ensembles, and Musicians. Taylor & Francis. p. 174. ISBN 978-1-317-8062-57. OCLC 900827870.
3. Maclagan, Susan J. (2019). A Dictionary for the Modern Flutist (Second ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 270. ISBN 978-1-5381-0666-2. OCLC 1035775945.
4. Toff, Nancy (2012). The Flute Book: A Complete Guide for Students and Performers (Third ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 74–75. ISBN 978-0-19-537307-3. OCLC 756278780.
5. Stevens, Cynthia (Summer 2011). "Below: Music for Low Flutes". The Flutist Quarterly. 36 (4): 81.