Small flute or piccolo
Flute in C
Alto flute or flute in G
Bass flute or flute in C

Small flute or piccolo

The piccolo also called "small flute" or "ottavino" is the smallest (32cm) and most highly pitched of the flute family. Generally crafted in wood, it has the same fingering as the concert flute in C but is pitched an octave higher.
It is derived from the "fife", still used today in military and folk music. It first appeared in the 18th century and was used in Mozart's German operas and dances. Many previous pieces, such as Vivaldi's Concertos for the piccolo were probably composed for the "sopranino" "treble recorder" recorder rather than for the piccolo.
It was with Beethoven that it found its place as an orchestral instrument, he used it in the first movements of the 5th, 6th, and 9th symphonies.
Because of smallness of the mouthpiece, it requires less air thus allowing longer phrases than the traditional flute.

 

Flute in C

The fundamental sound of this flute is C 3, from which the instrument has a range of three octaves. The pipe of the flute in C is cylindrical. Its 67cm length is pierced with sixteen holes and dismounts into three parts.
A comprehensive system of keys and levers (Boehm system) facilitate the flautist's play and allows stopping the further holes without having to move the hands.
Its role is to hold the principal melody within the ensemble. It is the instrument of the virtuoso and the most polyvalent (range, flexibility, attack, nuance) of the flute family.

 

Alto flute or flute in G

It is a contrasting instrument which sounds a quarter lower than the normal flute. This flute has a beautifully mysterious timbre.

 

Bass flute or flute in C

This flute is pitched an octave lower than the normal flute and is, consequently, the least virtuoso instrument of the family. Its basic role may be compared to that of the violoncello in a string quartet.