A physical property of platinum lends its name to Varese's work for this instrument solo, Density 21.5, and Walter Piston wrote a ballet about an "Incredible" player of this instrument.  
Jacques Ibert wrote a concerto for this instrument for Marcel Moyse, and Messaien's Le merle noir is for this instrument and piano. A quartet of these instruments, whose lowest note is either Middle C or a half-step below, attempt to respond to the trumpet's five-note query in Ives' The Unanswered Question. A physical property of platinum lends its name to Varese's work for this instrument solo, Density 21.5, and Walter Piston wrote a ballet about an "Incredible" player of this instrument.  This transverse instrument, which supplanted the recorder, is also known for its low-register unaccompanied solo at the beginning of Debussy's Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Faun. For 10 points, name this woodwind instrument whose dimunitive relative is the piccolo.
Jacques Ibert wrote a concerto for this instrument for Marcel Moyse, and Messaien's Le merle noir is for this instrument and piano.
flute