hautboy
Old double-reed instrument
Hautboy is an archaic name for the oboe, a double-reed woodwind instrument.
The word comes from French for "high wood," referring to its high pitch among wooden instruments.
You may encounter it in older texts or period music discussions: The hautboy player took his place in the baroque ensemble.
Modern usage strongly prefers oboe.
Twin-reed wind instrument
- shawmMedieval double-reed woodwind
- double reedPaired vibrating cane strips
- English hornAlto-range double-reed woodwind
- bassoonLow-pitched double-reed woodwind
Tube blown sideways
- clarinetSingle-reed woodwind instrument
- bassoonLow-pitched double-reed woodwind
- piccoloSmall, high-pitched woodwind
- recorderEnd-blown wooden flute
fife · chamber music · wind ensemble · double reed · reed · bore · keys · embouchure
Thin and high-pitched
- nasalOf the nose
- plaintiveSounding sad, sorrowful
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- pastoralOf countryside or clergy care
bright · penetrating · expressive · sonorous · mellow · vibrant · warm · clear
oboe
Twin-reed wind instrument
- shawmMedieval double-reed woodwind
- double reedPaired vibrating cane strips
- English hornAlto-range double-reed woodwind
flute
Tube blown sideways
- clarinetSingle-reed woodwind instrument
- bassoonLow-pitched double-reed woodwind
- piccoloSmall, high-pitched woodwind
recorder · fife · chamber music · wind ensemble · double reed · reed · bore · keys · embouchure · fingering
reedy
Thin and high-pitched
pastoral · bright · penetrating · expressive · sonorous · mellow · vibrant · warm · clear · rich
harpsichord
Plucked-string keyboard instrument
- continuoBaroque harmonic foundation
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
- sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition
concerto · gavotte · minuet · allemande · sarabande · gigue · clavichord · lute · viola da gamba · ornamentation
symphony
Extended composition for orchestra
brass · percussion · score · overture · movement · chamber · philharmonic · opera · soloist · repertoire