World's largest flute!

When you think of a flute, you think of pretty, bird-like high notes. But there's a member of the flute family we bet you've never seen or heard before. It plays super low notes, and it's super rare, and it's right here in Central Florida.

On a Stetson University stage, is an ensemble known on the national stage. They are music teachers and professors who make up the Florida Flute Orchestra, under the direction of Paige Long. “They are very, very beautiful sounds,” said Long.

The instruments cover the range of notes found on a piano keyboard. The piccolo hits the top C, and way down below, at the lowest C, is only accomplished by the double contrabass flute.

“Foghorn! It's the lowest part of the orchestra. Not what you would really call a solo instrument,” laughs Long.

The double contrabass is made of more than 18 feet of tubing, and stands 8 feet tall. It, along with the smaller sub contrabass in G, makes up the lush bottom end of the flute orchestra.

“With these lower flutes, it opens up the door to a lot of literature for us, as well as composers. They're intrigued by these instruments,” said Long.

And they rare with only four in the world, one in Tokyo, where it's made, one in Berlin, one in L.A., and of course the one in Flagler Beach.

It takes some time and patience to set them up. But for what they cost, you wouldn't rush it either. Automobile pricing, hints Long. That's why other flute orchestra conductors will use PVC piping instead for the low end. But not the Florida Flute Orchestra. It's the real deal here. “We blow! We have to have a lot of air. But it's a beautiful sound,” said Long.

On The Web:
www.ContraFlute.com