Tone Colours
The sounds that woodwind instruments make fall into two main types: clear sounding (flute and clarinet) and slightly 'reedy' sounding (oboe and bassoon). These two main 'colours' work well in combination with each other but may also be used separately. Over the years composers have continually explored the many sound combinations achievable within the woodwind section. By following links at the top of this page you will be able to listen to examples that illustrate the enormously wide range of tone colours that the woodwind section can achieve.
Clarity and 'Reediness'
In the early 18th century, during Bach's lifetime, the woodwind section typically consisted of recorders, oboes and bassoons, all of which were made of wood. The oboes and bassoons which uses a double reed to produce the sound were balanced by the clear tones of the recorder. Small recorders could also play very high notes and so enable the woodwind section to encompass a very wide range from the bottom of the bassoon to the top of the recorder with the oboe providing the mid range notes.
By the end of the 18th century, during Mozart's lifetime, the modern woodwind section had been born. Two major changes had taken place:
- Recorders were replaced by the more powerful sounding flutes, or 'transverse flutes' as they were known, which were typically made of wood. Metal flutes became popular during the 19th century.
- The clarinet became an established member of the woodwind section.
The clarinet is a clear sounding instrument, indeed the word 'clarinet' means clear sounding. Together with the flute it was found to help create a good balance with the pastoral tones of the oboes and bassoons. Another benefit of using clarinets was that having extra members enabled the woodwind section to play richer harmonies and more complex textures. Mozart was a particularly enthusiastic early adopter of the clarinet and it is largely due to him that the clarinet became an established member of the orchestra.
The saxophone was patented by Adolphe Sax in 1846 and although it is frequently used in the orchestra it has never become a permanent feature. There are many theories about why this is so, but it may something to do with the way that using a saxophone in the woodwind section alters the symetrical balance of tones colours. It could also be said that having saxophones as permanent members of the section would not provide many additional harmonic and textural possibities that adding instruments such as piccolos, bass clarinets and contra bassoons could not achieve. So it seems likely that the saxophone will tend to remain an 'optional extra' single reed instrument which joins the clarinets in the woodwind section on occasion as required.
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Philharmonia Orchestra Woodwind Section
The musicians of the Philharmonia Orchestra woodwind section seek to ensure that the section achieves a beautiful blend and balance of sounds both within the section and also with the rest of the Orchestra. The section contains professors from six different music conservatoires and many of the players have international reputations in their own right.
MJ
