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Woodwind Quintet
A wind quintet, also sometimes known as a woodwind quintet, is a group of five wind players (most commonly flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon). The term also applies to a composition for such a group.
Unlike the string quartet with its homogeneous blend of color, the instruments in a wind quintet differ from each other considerably in technique, idiom, and timbre. The modern wind quintet sprang from the ensemble favored in the court of Joseph II in late 18th century Vienna: 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 oboes, and 2 bassoons. The influence of Haydn's chamber writing suggested similar possibilities for winds, and advancements in the building of these instruments in that period made them more useful in small ensemble settings, leading composers to attempt smaller combinations.
The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The name derives from adding the suffix -et meaning little to the Italian word clarino meaning trumpet, as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed. (See Characteristics of the Instrument)
Clarinets actually comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitches. It is the largest such instrument family, with more than two dozen types. The unmodified word clarinet usually refers to the soprano size. (See Extended Family of Clarinets)
A person who plays the clarinet is called a clarinetist, sometimes spelled "clarinettist".
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike other woodwind instruments, a flute produces its sound from the flow of air against an edge, instead of using a reed. A musician who plays the flute is generally referred to as either a flautist or a flutist.
Flute sounds are typically closed and hollow as a result of relatively weak upper partials. As a result, flute tones are sweet in character and blend well with other instruments. The flute's timbre, pitch and attack are flexible, allowing a very high degree of instantaneous expressive control.
The horn is a brass instrument that consists of tubing wrapped into a coiled form. The instrument was first developed in France in about 1650 from the cor de chasse or hunting horn, and has been known as the French horn since it was refined and improved in England in 1750, although musicians, and particularly players of the instrument, generally refer to it simply as the horn.
The horn (like the cornet and Saxhorns but unlike the trumpet and trombone) has a tapered bore, steadily increasing in diameter along its length. Compared to the other brass instruments commonly found in the orchestra, the typical range of the horn is set an octave higher in its harmonic series, facilitated by its small, deep mouthpiece, giving it its characteristic "mellow" tone. The typical playing range of a horn goes from the written F at the bottom of the staff in bass clef to the C above the staff in treble clef.
The horn is notoriously difficult to play. Its harmonics are such that notes are unusually close together and it is easy to miss a note. The narrow mouthpipe and backward-facing bell also make it musically inefficient, but attempts to cure these problems have always resulted in a loss of its unique sound.
The oboe is a musical instrument of the woodwind double reed family. It is a descendant of the shawm. The word "oboe" is derived from the French word hautbois, meaning "high wood". A musician who plays the oboe is called an oboist. Careful manipulation of embouchure and air pressure allows the player to express a huge range of emotions and moods.
The oboe is a musical instrument of the woodwind double reed family. It is a descendant of the shawm. The word "oboe" is derived from the French word hautbois, meaning "high wood". A musician who plays the oboe is called an oboist. Careful manipulation of embouchure and air pressure allows the player to express a huge range of emotions and moods.
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that plays in the tenor range and below. Also called fagott, in German, and fagotto, in Italian, from a word meaning "bundle of sticks" due to its construction: the instrument is made of an eight foot long conical piece of wood, doubled over onto itself, and split into several sections so it can be disassembled and stored. Appearing in its modern form in the 1800s after the model of its precursors, particularly the dulcian, the bassoon is a part of orchestral, concert band, and chamber music literature. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, variety of character, and agility. A bassoon player is called a "bassoonist".
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