Flutes

Flutes are the highest instrument group in the Woodwind family. The Piccolo (a small flute) plays an octave higher than the regular flute and is the highest instrument in the entire Orchestra. Flutes often play long floating melodies, or fast technical passages, and are airy, and ethereal in tone colour.

Have a listen.

Clarinets

Like flutes, most clarinets have a relatively high pitch. Indeed, the E flat clarinet is just as high as the piccolo.

However, some clarinets are bass instruments and sound very low. All clarinets use a reed to create their round and as a result have a woody, rounded tone colour.

Clarinets can be used across different genres and often feature in jazz and Klezmer music.

Oboes

There are only three oboes in each orchestra. Although they form a small section, oboes are very important and have lots of leading solo parts.

All instruments in the Orchestra tune to the oboe as it has a very pure, and penetrating sound.

Oboes play on a double reed which creates a lot of resistance in the instruments. As a result, oboes have a very focused, direct tone colour.

Bassoons

Bassoons are bass instruments. Although they are very low, they are flexible and can sound broad, intense and powerful, as well as delicate and fluid.

Bassoons, like the oboe, use a double reed and share their unique tone colour.

Bassoons have lots of character and are often featured in film music.