Woodwind Section

            Wind instruments have two characteristics in common: (a) all are cylindrical pipes with holes cut in the side; (b) their timbre is sufficiently alike to cause composers to think of them as a group.

Flute is the transverse flute, held horizontally by the player.  The player blows across an opening on the top.  The flute’s tone varies from a low, limpid, velvety sound to a high, piping, birdlike sound.

Piccolo is the smaller relative of the flute.  It is exactly the same in all respects — notes and fingerings — but is a lot smaller than the flute and it has a higher pitch.

Oboe is made of wood, and played by blowing through a small passage between two reeds, which in turn set up the vibration in the air column.  The oboe was first used in orchestras about 1660.

Clarinet was invented in the late seventeenth century.  It has a single reed, and a result, its tone is quite different, being smooth and liquid.  It is as flexible as the flute.  In the band, it assumes the role comparable to that of the violin in the orchestra.

Bassoon, like the oboe, is a double-reed instrument.  Its low tone is thick, its middle register dry, and its upper register reedy.  It is over sixteen inches long.  It produces the lowest tone in the orchestra.

Saxophone is a single reed instrument. Depending on the player it can sound mellow or strong. It does everything from pop to big band to jazz but also has its place in classical music.

Tags: bassoon, clarinet, flute, Musical Instruments, oboe, piccolo, saxophone, woodwind instruments

Category: Musical Instruments