We use many different types of instruments to gain as best an orchestral sound as we can possibly get.

Altogether we have 7 pitches of flute, pictured and described below. We also have a relatively large percussion section.

The photographs of the instruments are not to scale.

Starting at the very highest of sounds, the Piccolo is pitched in the key of C and is the highest sound of an orchestra.

It is made of wood is an octave higher than the Concert flute.

They are very small and you have to be pretty delicate to play one of these. They can be very pricey too.

The Treble flute in G is pitched just above the C flute and is a bit smaller than one of those.

These days they can be quite rare and we're just lucky to own 5 of them.

These Concert Flutes or 'C' Flutes are most common and have the largest proportion in the ensemble.

We have recently bought eight new Trevor J. James Virtuoso solid silver flutes thanks to our grant from the Scottish Arts Council.

Most of our music is arranged with three different parts for 'C' flutes, Solo, 1st and 2nd Concert.

Coming now into the lower sounds, the Altos are next. 

They are pitched in G below concert and take up the second biggest section of the ensemble.

Our Scottish Arts Council grant also allowed us to buy three new Hammig CC Bass flutes to replace the old ones which were in almost an unplayable state.

Also thanks to the grant, we bought two Contraltos in G built by our good pal, Eva Kingma of Holland. These provide the second lowest sound in the orchestra. 

Our two Contrabasses in C were built by Eva Kingma also, and is a whole 3 octaves lower than the piccolo. Again these were funded by the Scottish Arts Council.

In May 2009, we were then able to further deepen the sounds of the orchestra, by securing a Subcontrabss in G.  This is a half octave lower than the Contrabass and came in at a cost of around £17,000.  At the time of purchase, it was the only flute of its kind in the UK and one of only three or four in the world.  This too was constructed by Eva Kingma of Holland with funding partly secured by the South Lanarkshire Renewable Energy Fund and also by fantastic support from the local community.

Instruments on stage.

The stage plan shown below gives an idea of how all these different types of flute and percussion are positioned in concert.  Although current at time of publishing, it should be regarded as a guide only.  The deeper colours represent the lower flute sounds.