Title: Woodwind Instruments In The Orchestra | Dawkes Music
Headings: Woodwind Instruments in the Orchestra
Woodwind Instruments in the Orchestra
Which is the highest woodwind instrument?
How many flutes are in an orchestra?
What instrument does the orchestra tune to?

Content: The highest woodwind instrument in the orchestra is the piccolo, which is a half-sized flute capable of playing an octave higher. The name of the piccolo is Italian for ‘small’, and the fingering is the same as that of the flute; this leads many piccolo players to alternate with the flute. It enjoys a reputation today as an orchestral sparkler, having made its major-work debut in Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Piccolo Flutes
How many flutes are in an orchestra? You can generally expect to see between two and four flutes in an orchestra. There are many types of flutes commonly used in orchestras other than the piccolo, including the C flute, alto flute (in G) and even, on occasion, the bass flute. The flute is the oldest of all instruments to produce pitched sounds, rather than merely rhythms, and a standard one is slightly over two feet long. Played by holding it sideways with both hands and blowing across a hole in the mouthpiece, the flute’s high-pitched, piercing sound has made it a mainstay of orchestras since the 18thcentury. You can change the pitch by opening and closing the keys, which are metal caps that cover the holes of the majority of woodwind instruments.