Instrument: Piccolo

Summary

Keith Bragg, piccolo player with the Philharmonia Orchestra, offers an insightful look into the piccolo's unique role and sound. He explains how this small instrument plays an octave higher than the concert flute and serves as the 'spice' of the orchestra, adding distinctive textures across its low, middle, and high registers. Bragg details the piccolo's construction, embouchure, and the challenges of playing in tune, while reflecting on his own journey from flute player to piccolo specialist. He also touches on the instrument’s role in orchestral performances, emphasizing the need for flexibility, precision, and patience in mastering the piccolo.

Takeaways

• 😀 The piccolo is the smallest instrument in the flute family, about half the length of a concert flute, and plays an octave higher than it.
• 😀 The piccolo is a transposing instrument, meaning it sounds an octave higher than written in the music notation.
• 😀 It has three distinct tonal registers: soft and mellifluous in the low register, sprightly and perky in the middle, and strident and cutting in the high register.
• 😀 The piccolo is more often an orchestral instrument than a solo one, adding a ‘spicy’ edge to the sound of the orchestra.
• 😀 Made of African blackwood with silver keys, the piccolo has a cylindrical head and a tapered body, unlike the concert flute, which has a conical head and a cylindrical body.
• 😀 The piccolo requires a similar embouchure to the flute, though some players believe a tighter embouchure is necessary due to the piccolo’s smaller size.
• 😀 Keith Bragg’s early fascination with the piccolo led to a flute training first, but he eventually specialized in piccolo after working in a ballet orchestra.
• 😀 The piccolo is known for its role in the orchestra, where players often spend long periods resting and counting bars before playing short, intense passages.
• 😀 Players need a good ear for pitch, as piccolo notes, especially in the higher registers, can easily be out of tune without precise fingerings.
• 😀 Unusual fingerings are often used on the piccolo to ensure accurate tuning, particularly for notes like high C, which may be flat unless played loudly.
• 😀 Advanced tonguing techniques like single, double, and triple tonguing are essential for both flute and piccolo players, allowing for fast articulation and clarity.

Q & A

What is the piccolo and how does it differ from the concert flute?

The piccolo is the smallest instrument in the flute family, approximately half the length of a concert flute. It plays an octave higher than the concert flute and is a transposing instrument, meaning it sounds an octave higher than written.

What are the three distinctive tonal registers of the piccolo?

The piccolo has three distinctive tonal registers: a soft, mellifluous low register, a perky and pretty middle register, and a strident, cutting high register that can pierce through an entire orchestra.

Why is the piccolo often compared to chili in a meal?

The piccolo is likened to chili because, like spice in a meal, it adds a distinctive flavor to an orchestra. While it’s important in small doses, having too much of it would overpower the overall sound.

What materials are used to make the piccolo, and how does it differ from the concert flute in construction?

The piccolo is made from African blackwood, with silver keys. Unlike the concert flute, which has a cylindrical body and a tapered head, the piccolo has a cylindrical head and a tapered body. This difference in construction affects its sound and tuning.

How is sound produced on the piccolo?

The sound is produced on the piccolo in a similar way to the flute. The player blows across the top of the instrument, with the lower lip covering part of the hole, creating a fipple that splits the air and sets it vibrating.

What embouchure is recommended for playing the piccolo?

The embouchure used for the piccolo is similar to that used for the flute. Keith Bragg suggests applying a similar embouchure to the piccolo, rather than using a much tighter one as some might suggest.

What challenges did Keith Bragg face in becoming a professional piccolo player?

Keith initially wanted to play the piccolo at age 12 but was told to start with the flute. He later became a professional piccolo player by working in a ballet orchestra, where he gained experience with piccolo solos before joining the Philharmonia Orchestra.

What skills are required to play the piccolo effectively?

Key skills for piccolo playing include mastering the flute first, good pitch accuracy, flexibility with fingerings, and the ability to concentrate for long periods between playing, as piccolo parts often involve long rests.

Why is flexibility in fingerings important for piccolo players?

Flexibility in fingerings is crucial because the piccolo does not always play in tune naturally like the flute. For example, high C tends to be flat unless played very loudly, so players use different fingerings to adjust pitch and fit it into the chord.

What tonguing techniques are commonly used by piccolo players?

Piccolo players use single tonguing (ta ta ta), double tonguing (taka taka), and triple tonguing (taka taka taka). These techniques allow for fast articulation and are standard across all instruments in the flute family.