Piccolo flute

Piccolos like this examples, are small flutes. Fingerrings on the piccolo, corresponds to those on the flute, but because of its smaller size, it sounds an octave lower. There are very few music pieces written appositely for piccolos; this is because piccolos produce a very high register sound. It is said that it is very difficult to play the piccolo in tune, the reason being its small size. This example, probably from the 19th century, is made of dark stained wood with silver mounts and four silver keys, and it consists in three joints. The maker is unknown. This piccolo belonged almost certainly to the grandfather of the donor, Joseph Howe, who died aged 30-35 around 1860. He lived in Harion Street in Liverpool and he was known to play the violin.