Michael Hoppe & Tim Wheater - Romances for Alto Flute, Vol. 2: The Dreamer (1997) Lossless

A bit on the alto flute before I review the music here: the alto flute is a rather rare instrument--it's bent right before the joint of the head (mouthpiece) and the body of the flute--think how the pipe underneath your sink looks with that elbow bend and you can picture it. And it has a breathy sound plus a somewhat softer and less shrill upper register. The breathiness is due to the volume of air the player needs to push through the instrument. The bend is to accommodate the fact that flute players arms don't grow longer, but a lower note flute must be MUCH longer than the standard soprano.
The soft music on "Alto Flute Romances" is composed with a slow tempo to take advantage of the wind-in-a-cave sound of the flute. Perfect for slowing down, relaxing, calming oneself, or playing as a lullaby. Some of the pieces sound a bit alike, but they are all in a similar tempo which adds to the relaxation effect. The "Lavender Shadows" is my favorite on the entire CD. Very nice.