FAMILY REUNION of the WOODWINDS! Get to know their instruments, ranges + registers!

In this week’s episode of Virtual Orchestration, guest host Claire Wickes unboxes her flutes and literally blows us away with an extensive overview of the woodwind families and their eccentric family members. She dives deep into the various Instruments of the Flutes, Oboes, Clarinets and Bassoons and provides us with detailed infos on the ranges and the distinct subsections of the ranges - the registers.

Virtual Orchestration is a collaboration between Berklee College of Music (Boston, USA) and Orchestral Tools (Berlin, Germany).

Assets used in the video :

SFX :

Air Whoosh
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Video creation credits:

Script / video concept 📜 : Claire Wickes, Eduard Flemmer
Background Music 🎶 : Alex Lamy
Camera 🎥 and Editing ✂️ : Fabián Barba Hallal
Motion graphics 🎨 : Michael Logar

[InstrumentManiac]

I love the graphics you used for this! Very well explained and deep dive video 👏

[AngelaBallesterosGamez]

As a bassoonist that started with a G Bassoon i have to say that G and F bassoons exist and they are so tiny I love them

[coolcitymusicUS]

Loved this video! Maybe consider including the saxophone family in another video? I know, a late addition to the orchestral repertoire, but they are used in some pretty famous pieces. 😀

[KarlRKaiser]

I love the sound of the woodwind section as an ensemble "instrument". It has a wider range of tonal colors than the other instrument classes and seems to be used for more nuanced emotions than the strings or brass. The range of tonal color also allows woodwinds to converse among themselves, trading melodies between the different instruments.

[jeroenneve]

Saxophones? We're latecomers, but still there are some orchestral scores written for us.

[LeonoraBassisty]

as a composer I was only using 50% of the ranges just to be safe, I can now see I can be less careful now. Thank you so much.

[JulienTabaraniComposer]

Love these episodes with Claire, woodwinds are so inspiring !

[aridvorakcomposer]

As a strings player, I tent to struggle more with the wind instruments when composing. Recently, I started learning to play the bassoon (my favourite!) to get more familiar with the fingering issues and breath management within my pieces. It also always helps me to watch some videos on the topic - like right now - before diving into writing the winds. Thank you for making excelent educational content, I'm subscribing!

[chilykees]

Recorder players watch this and laugh in pain 😅 These first hand kind of videos are very valuable.

[nissiadeniyi]

I must say my favorite orchestra woodwind is the “Oboe”. Loved that instrument ever since I heard it in Tchaikovsky's “Swan Lake”

[robbesrh]

Very useful information. I finally now understand why certain instruments are transcribed. The woodwinds add wonderful tonal complexity to the orchestral sound. I love the way Stravinksy uses them in Rite of Spring.

[vacuumlover]

Even though I do not play saxophone, I do believe they should be included in the woodwind family when it comes to orchestration.

Without the saxophone family, we wouldn’t of had the iconic solo in “The Old Castle” which is a part of pictures at an exhibition. Or the iconic solos in Ravels Bolero.

Also, I want to start a movement called “stop calling my bass clarinet a saxophone”

[wallacewatler]

Great explanation! I just want to add that some bass clarinets, notably student models, only go down to a concert Db instead of the Bb below it. If you're writing for non-professional players, assume a low Db.

[katwilkinson]

Love how this lady is on point about everything. Graphics are amazing

[SAZIZMUSIC]

Very clear concept. As a self taught musician this videos are super helpful. Thank you very much ❤

[RobTube]

Thanks Claire, great videos, hope to see you again in another episode !

[vacuumlover]

As a clarinetist

*I demand more time from composers to put down a Bb clarinet and grab a bass clarinet WITH ONLY A MEASURE REST IN 4/4*

We have to adjust a floor peg before we can start playing. The floor peg cannot be extended when the instrument is resting in a stand. The bass clarinet will twist and maybe fall if the peg isn’t fully retracted.

[SuperKambing]

Great explanation, great animation, great sound, you guys nailed it!

[sophieirwin]

I play the b flat clarinet, but also used to play the contra-alto clarinet, where I had to sit on stacked chairs to play it. It’s between the bass and contra bass clarinet.

[anapaulamendozadiaz]

Este video es maravilloso, apenas estoy aprendiendo a tocar la flauta dulce.