Title: Woodwind section - Wikipedia
Headings: Woodwind section
Woodwind section
Contents
Orchestra
Concert band
Woodwind choir
History of the woodwind choir
Original music for woodwind choir
See also
References

Content: For example, Mahler in his Symphony No. 8 (1910) employs 2 piccolos, 4 flutes, 4 oboes, cor anglais, 2 E-flat clarinets, 3 B-flat clarinets, bass clarinet, 4 bassoons, and contrabassoon. After World War I, the number of instruments was often reduced, approaching the size of a chamber orchestra, with individual instrument combinations differing for each composition. The change can be illustrated by comparing two works by Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (1911–1913) with a large woodwinds section similar to the above and his Histoire du soldat (1918), which only utilizes one clarinet and one bassoon. The woodwind section of the orchestra today, at a minimum consists of: Two flutes
Two oboes
Two clarinets
Two bassoons
For early classical music, the clarinets and/or flutes may be omitted. The principal oboist is traditionally the section leader. The evolution of this section can be seen over Mozart's Symphonies. His earlier symphonies required only the oboes, while his later symphonies required the entire above listing.