alto flute

noun

1. a large flute pitched a perfect fourth lower than an ordinary flute.

Word History and Origins

Origin of alto flute¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

It gets a lot of its witchy allure from Bud Shank’s alto flute solo, which he reportedly improvised in one take.

From Los Angeles Times

He has adapted the continuo part mostly for a small ensemble of alto flute, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet and harp, and voiced the figured bass in octaves far higher and lower than tradition would suggest.

From New York Times

He started to work on a new piece for piano, vibraphone and alto flute, taking the opening chords of an obscure late composition by Coltrane, “Untitled 90320,” and radically slowing them down to distill their melodic essence.

From New York Times

Our flutist is doubling piccolo and alto flute.

From New York Times

In “Fern,” eloquent, haunting alto flute and bass clarinet drones, punctuated by woody percussion and elongated by electronics, were gripping, the synagogue now a rain forest.

From Los Angeles Times