M&E's smallest flute

An unexpected package arrived for me today from Michael Cronnolly of M&E Flutes, containing what must be the smallest flute (fife? piccolo?) I’ve ever seen.

It’s a high F…one octave and a minor third above the concert flute. A Generation D whistle is longer.

This is a real instrument, albeit very small.

Here’s what it sounds like:

http://www.flutesite.com/samples/highf.mp3

I had no idea anyone made a flute this small!

–James

I’d definitely call it a piccolo.

All I can say is, good lord, you must have skinny fingers to play that thing. I’ve got two antique Eb piccolos, one of which I can just barely finger properly, and the other I don’t have a prayer.

Wow, that sounds really good. But, like Michael, how the heck do you play something that small? I can barely finger my Sweet fife in D sometimes!

Eric

Does he make a G? I mean a lower G.

I know he makes D, Eb, and F flutes–I don’t know about G but I’ll ask and post the answer.

On the size of the little F piccolo–yeah, it’s tiny. But I can also play a Generation G whistle, even though I have what I consider “average” sized fingers and hands.

Maybe I’ll record something with the entire Generation lineup sometime…if I can figure out how to record those little whistles without them overdriving the mic.

–James