FAMILY REUNION of the WOODWINDS! Get to know their instruments, ranges + registers!

Summary

CLA Wix, a composer and principal flutist of the English National Opera Orchestra, introduces the woodwind section of the orchestra, covering its various instruments, ranges, and registers. He explores the flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon families, describing their unique characteristics and how they blend into the orchestral sound. The video also explains the concept of transposing instruments, the challenges of doubling, and tips for writing parts for woodwinds. CLA provides insights into the tonal qualities of each instrument, helping composers understand how to effectively arrange for the woodwind section.

Takeaways

• 🎶 The woodwind section is one of the most complex parts of the orchestra, with different instruments and families like the flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon.
• 🎼 The flute family includes the concert flute, piccolo, alto flute, and bass flute, with the rare contrabass and subcontrabass flutes for very low pitches.
• 🎵 The oboe family has members like the standard oboe, English horn (cor anglais), oboe d’amore, and even rarer instruments like the heckelphone and bass oboe.
• 🎷 The clarinet family includes transposing instruments like the B-flat, A, and E-flat clarinets, as well as the bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, and the rare basset horn.
• 🎶 Bassoons have only two main members: the standard bassoon and the much deeper contrabassoon, which often gets comedic or terrifying solos.
• 🎼 Woodwind players often double, switching between instruments during performances, which requires time and preparation for tuning and intonation.
• 🎵 Instrument ranges vary greatly, and players are often limited by their instruments' comfortable ranges, though some can extend beyond that with reduced sound quality.
• 🎷 Transposing instruments allow musicians to use consistent fingerings across different instruments, making it easier to switch between them in performances.
• 🎶 The flute’s low register is rich but quiet, the middle register projects better, and the high register is bright and piercing, especially with the piccolo.
• 🎵 The bassoon's low register is rich and full, while the middle and high registers become more intense, especially as the player pushes toward the instrument’s upper limits.

Q & A

What are the main woodwind families discussed in the video?

The main woodwind families discussed are the flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon families, each with a variety of instruments.

What instruments are part of the flute family?

The flute family includes the concert flute, piccolo, alto flute, bass flute, contrabass flute, and subcontrabass flute.

What is doubling or tripling in the context of woodwind playing?

Doubling or tripling refers to a player being required to play more than one instrument during a piece, such as switching between the flute and piccolo.

Why are some woodwind instruments called transposing instruments?

Transposing instruments produce a different pitch than the written note. For example, when a B-flat clarinet plays a written C, the note that sounds is a B-flat. This system makes it easier for players to switch between similar instruments without needing to learn different fingering systems.

What are the key differences in sound quality between the flute’s registers?

The flute’s low register (C3-C4) is quiet but rich, the middle register is louder and projects well, and the top register is bright and piercing.

What is unique about the cor anglais compared to the standard oboe?

The cor anglais, or English horn, plays lower than the oboe and has a thick, dark, and melancholic sound, often used for lyrical or mournful melodies.

How does the clarinet family differ from other woodwind families?

The clarinet family is larger and includes instruments like the B-flat clarinet, A clarinet, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, basset horn, and alto clarinet. The B-flat and A clarinets are transposing instruments, meaning they sound a different pitch than written.

What are the three main registers of the clarinet, and how do they differ in sound?

The clarinet has three main registers: the Shalom register (low, warm, and rounded), the Clarino register (middle, bright and clear), and the Altissimo register (high, thin, and projected).

What are the characteristics of the bassoon’s registers?

The bassoon's lowest register (B-flat0-E-flat1) is rich but hard to control at lower dynamics, the middle register (E1-G3) is full and vibrant, and the top register (G3-E4) can sound intense and pinched.

Why is it important to give woodwind players time to switch instruments during a performance?

Switching between instruments, especially large ones like the contrabassoon, takes time. If players don't have enough time to prepare, they may risk damaging their instruments or playing out of tune, as woodwinds can go out of tune when cold.