The wind section is traditionally known as the woodwind section even though not all the instruments are made of wood (for example the saxophone is made of metal). The woodwind section usually includes flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons. Saxophones are less commonly used.
The phrases "double-" "triple-" and "quadruple-" woodwind are often used to mean that there are two three or four of each type of instrument. Typical lineups would be as follows (saxophones can be added to any of these):
Double Woodwind
2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons
Triple Woodwind
2 flutes + piccolo, 2 oboes + English horn, 2 clarinets + bass clarinet, 2 bassoons + contrabassoon
Note: This is the standard lineup for most symphony orchestras. The Philharmonia Orchestra has a member for each of the instruments in a triple woodwind line up, but not all of them will be used in every concert.
Quadruple Woodwind
3 flutes + piccolo, 3 oboes + English horn, 3 clarinets + bass clarinet, 3 bassoons + contrabassoon.
No Rules
There are few hard and fast rules in music and composers use a tremendous variety of combinations woodwind instruments.
- Bach usually used recorders instead of flutes.
- In Guerrelieder by Schoenberg he uses seven flutes and about as many of the other woodwind instruments.
- In Stravinsky's Dumbarton Oaks he uses just one flute, one clarinet and one bassoon.
- Other woodwind instruments such as pan pipes and occarinas have been also used in the woodwind section and Wagner even designed his own reed instrument to be played by the Shepherd in Tristan and Isolde.
