Instruments of the Band and Orchestra Woodwind Family

Woodwind Family Woodwinds get their name by the make of the instrument (primarily wood). All woodwind instruments are made out of a tube, usually with holes in it. When all holes are covered, air goes all the way to the end of the tube and makes a low sound. When the holes are open, the air goes only a little way and makes a high sound. To further increase their range of notes, most of the woodwind instruments come in different sizes (eg. soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, etc.).

Woodwind Family Woodwind instruments may make sounds in three different ways: Some, like the flute, make a sound by blowing air across a tone hole. Single reed instruments, like the clarinet and saxophone, use a single piece of cane, which vibrates, to produce a sound. The oboe, English horn, and bassoon used a double reed, or two pieces of cane vibrating against each other, to make a sound.

Tone Holes Sound is produced by blowing across the tone hole of the flute, like blowing across the top of a bottle. The keys on the flute allow you to change pitch. Flute and Piccolos are the tone hole woodwind instruments.

Flute Ancient Flute Modern Flute The most ancient of woodwind instruments. Even though flutes are made of brass now, the earliest form of a flute was a hollow wooden stick with holes in it. Modern flutes are made of a metal tube in three pieces. Modern Flute

Flute

Piccolo Half the size of the flute and has two pieces. It sounds one octave higher than the flute. It is the smallest instrument in the orchestra.

Double Reed Double reed instruments are made up of two very thin reeds tied at the end. The sound is produced when the player focuses the air through the reed at high pressure. The reeds vibrate against each other to get a sound. The double reeds consist of: English Horn, Oboe, Bassoon, and Contra Bassoon.

Oboe and English Horn The English horn has a lower, richer sound than the oboe. The oboe is smaller than the English horn. Its bell flares out like a clarinet. The English horn has a curved bell like a light bulb and is slightly longer than the oboe.

Oboe and English Horn English Horn Oboe

Oboe

Bassoon and Contra Bassoon The contra bassoon is one octave lower and much bigger than the bassoon. These are the tenor (bassoon) and bass (contra bassoon) of the woodwind family. They are the lowest instruments in the woodwind family. The bassoon is shaped like a pole while the contra bassoon is curved.

Bassoon and Contra Bassoon

Single Reed Single reed instruments consist of one reed placed on a mouthpiece. The reed is held together on the mouthpiece by a ligature. Air is blown through the mouthpiece which causes the reed to vibrate and produces a sound. Single reed instruments include: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, and Baritone Saxophone.

Clarinet and Bass Clarinet The bass clarinet is one octave lower than the clarinet. The clarinet is very flexible in the orchestra. It has a very wide range. It has a rich low sound, smooth middle sound, and shrill upper sound. The bass clarinet is much larger than the clarinet and sits on the ground while you play it. There are many other types of clarinets that are less commonly used. All the clarinets make up a clarinet family.

Clarinet Family There are up to 27 different types of clarinets. Only about 3 or 4 types are primarily used in orchestras and band. The two most commonly used are the B flat soprano clarinet and the B flat bass clarinet.

Clarinet and Bass Clarinet

Clarinet & Bassoon

Clarinet Spotlight: Benny Goodman Benny Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz musician and clarinetist, known as "King of Swing". Over the years he played with the greatest figures in jazz: Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and countless others. That crowded career, spanning more than six decades, had an almost unparalleled impact on popular music and the importance of the clarinet in both jazz and classical music. Thousands of youngsters throughout the world were influenced to play the clarinet through listening to Benny Goodman’s recordings and live performances, and the style of those who turned to jazz was universally patterned after what they heard Benny play, whether or not they realized it. The popularity of the “big band” format is another of the legacies of this musical giant.

Saxophone Family The saxophone was invented in 1840. It is newer than other musical instruments. It is mainly used in jazz bands. They are usually made of brass. Saxophones are categorized in the woodwind family because they use reeds. Some saxes are actually made of wood, which is extremely rare.

Saxophone Family

Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Saxophone The soprano sax is the highest pitched instrument and is shaped like a clarinet. The alto sax (the most commonly played) has a mid range pitch. The bell curves out of the body. The tenor sax is slightly larger with a lower pitch than the alto. The baritone sax is the largest saxophone and has an extremely low sound.

Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Saxophone

Saxophone Spotlight: John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. From 1957 onward he recorded and produced dozens of albums, many of them not released until years after his death. He achieved extraordinary popularity, while also responding to a religious awakening that has made him a source of spiritual inspiration. He was called to military service during WWII, where he performed in the U.S. Navy Band in Hawaii. After the war, Coltrane began playing tenor saxophone.

Woodwind Instruments: Review Name these woodwind instruments: Piccolo Flute Bassoon Saxophone English horn Oboe Clarinet

Woodwind Instruments: Review What are the double reed instruments? What are the single reed instruments?