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Woodwinds!

The woodwind family is a beautiful section of the orchestra, but sadly often
overlooked. Todays epic music tend to focus on huge staccato strings,
chanting choirs and heroic brass melodies. Therefore, their little brothers in
the woodwinds section are often forgotten by the composers. However,
knowing to write for woodwinds is important, and may give your compositions
a whole new touch. Listen to Buckbeaks Flight by John Williams, and skip
to 1.20. Notice how the woodwind runs in the background are giving a whole
new life to the music. Woodwinds can also be used to present themes in solo
instruments, doubling other instruments, or playing harmonic material.

Ranges of the woodwind instruments:!

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Some basics:!
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There are two kinds of woodwinds instruments: Flutes and reed
instruments. The reed instruments are divided in two, the single reeds and
double reeds. The clarinet is a single reed instrument, while the oboes and
bassoons are double reed instruments. They provide quite different tone
colors. The flutes and single reeds are more warm and round, while the
double reeds are more nasal and bright. !

Woodwinds are able to play fast scales and runs: In contrast to brass
instruments, woodwinds can easily play faster runs and arpeggiated chords.
In fact, this is a very usual way to use the woodwinds, as in the Buckbeaks
Flight example. !

They cannot play chords Woodwind instruments are only able to play one
note at a time. However they can play arpeggios effectively, which is chords
played quickly, one note at a time. !

Transposing Instruments!
The Bb Clarinet and the English Horn are transposing instruments in the
woodwind section. !

Woodwind players need to breathe too: As with the brass section,

woodwind players need to breathe while playing. Therefore it is important to
create small breaks for the players, both within a phrase, and between
phrases. !

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The Instruments !

Piccolo: The piccolo is the highest pithed

instrument in the woodwind family, and in the entire
orchestra. It has a very penetrating and shrill quality
when played loud, yet a soft and sweet tone when
played softly. Good for huge tutti statements, but
should be used sparingly, as it is very tiresome to
listen to for the ears.
Good blends: Doubling other woodwinds in
octaves!

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Flute: The flute is an edge-tone instrument. It

has a rich and full tone in its middle range,
and a more brilliant and penetrating higher
register. Can both be used effectively as a solo
instrument, as well as for doubling other
instruments of the orchestra. Good blends:
Doubling violins (very common), oboe and
clarinet. !

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Oboe:
The oboe is a double reed woodwind
instrument, with a nasal and bright tone
color. The expressive middle register is
often used both for sad, melancholic
themes as well as joyful melodies. !It has
a very characteristic quality, both good for
solo melodies, as well as for doubling
other orchestral instruments.
Good blends: Flute for a more mellow
sound, clarinets for a fuller quality, or
bassoons for a more powerful and deep
sound. Both oboe and bassoons are
double reed instruments, and therefore cooperate together very well.!

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Clarinet:!
The clarinet is a single reed instrument, and
has a mellow, warm and expressive tone
color. Very effective for playing smooth and
expressive legato passages. The lower
register is dark, warm and melancholic when
played solo. The upper register is most
commonly used, and sounds very compact
and bright. It is quite similar to the human
voice, and can effectively express both
desperation, love, joy and mourning.
Good blends: Woodwinds, horn, and cello.
Adds depth and warmth to other instruments when combined. !
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Bassoon:
The bassoon is a tenor and bass instrument,
with a double reed mouthpiece as the oboe.
Though the two instruments are similar, the
bassoon is not as penetrating and sharp as its
little brother. The differences between the
registers of the instruments are very clear and
pronounced, one of the true characteristics of
the bassoon. The lower register is often used
as a bass foundation, and is quite thick and
heavy. Usage of the middle register is very
common, often playing mysterious, emotional
and melancholic melodies. The upper register
sounds very compressed, yet lyrical and soft.
Good blends: Woodwinds, horn, low brass
and low strings. Adds a more powerful and
mellow touch to other instruments when doubled. Takes some of the metallic
edge of the brass instruments. !

In a large orchestra, the brass section will usually look like this:
Flutes: 2-4
Oboes: 2-4
Clarinets: 2-4
Bassoons: 2-4