Introduction

Woodwind instruments are a family of musical instruments within the more general category of wind instruments. There are two main types of woodwind instruments: flutes and reed instruments (otherwise called reed pipes). What differentiates these instruments from other wind instruments is the way in which they produce their sound.

Modern Orchestra and Concert Band Woodwinds

The concert band’s woodwind section is typically much larger and more diverse than the orchestra’s. The concert band’s woodwind section typically includes: piccolo, flutes, oboes, B♭ clarinets, bass clarinets, bassoons, alto saxophones, tenor saxophone, and baritone saxophone. The cor anglais, E♭ clarinet, alto clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, contrabass clarinet, contrabassoon, and soprano saxophone are also used, but not as frequently as the other woodwinds.

Flutes produce sound by directing a focused stream of air across the edge of a hole in a cylindrical tube. The flute family can be divided into two sub-families: open flutes, and closed flutes.

To produce a sound with open flutes, the player is required to blow a stream of air across a sharp edge that then splits the airstream . This split airstream then acts upon the air column contained within the flute’s hollow causing it to vibrate and produce sound. Examples of open flutes are the transverse flute, panpipes and ocarinas. Ancient flutes of this variety were often made from tubular sections of plants such as grasses, reeds, and hollowed-out tree branches. Later, flutes were made of metals such as tin, copper, or bronze. Modern concert flutes are usually made of high-grade metal alloys, usually containing nickel, silver, copper, or gold.

To produce a sound with a closed flute, the player is required to blow air into a duct. This duct acts as a channel, bringing the air to a sharp edge. As with the open flutes, the air is then split; this causes the column of air within the closed flute to vibrate and produce sound. Examples of this type of flute include the recorder (instrument), and organ pipes.

Flute

Flutes dating back to 43,000 to 35,000 years ago have been found in Germany, but the contemporary mechanism for contemporary flutes was developed between 1832 and 1847.

 Oboe

Oboes first appeared in the mid-seventeenth century and were developed further in the nineteenth century.

English Horn

The English horn originated in about 1720.

Clarinet

The clarinet became a standard orchestral instrument by the 1800s.

Bassoon

The bassoon was developed in the first half of the nineteenth century.

Contrabassoon

The contrabassoon was developed in the mid-eighteenth century.