Back when I was a junior-high flute player, I once heard somebody mention the existence of bass flutes. I was instantly intrigued. But, in the days before readily available Internet access, I wasn’t able to track down examples of what they looked or sounded like.
Today, YouTube is filled with examples of deep-voiced, husky flutes — ranging from the simply extra-long alto flute to the gigantic subcontrabass flute, which is basically a percussion instrument with some woodwind features.
It’s fascinating stuff, and a handy reminder that flutes can do really interesting things … like improvisational jazz, and beatboxing. I’ve put together a small playlist of videos. Enjoy!