piccolo

     

The piccolo is a small flute. Like the flute, the piccolo is normally pitche in the key of C, one octave above the concert flute (making it, effectively, a sopranino flute). Music for the piccolo is written one octave lower than concert pitch. Fingerings on the piccolo correspond to those of the flute, but sound an octave higher as the piccolo is considerably less than half the size of the flute. Also, many alternate fingerings may be used to tune the individual pitches, as many are consistently out of tune. In addition to the standard C piccolo, there is a piccolo pitched in D♭ that is sometimes used in bands, and one in A♭, rarely used outside Italian marching bands.

Trivia about piccolo

  • This instrument that's about half the size of a flute is the smallest woodwind in an orchestra
  • This small woodwind is known for its high pitch, & its name is Italian for "small"
  • Legendary Chicago Bears running back Brian
  • Heard here, it's the smallest member of the flute family
  • James Galway has performed in several orchestras playing the flute & this smaller relative
  • In French, this instrument is called a petite flute
  • An octave higher than the flute, this instrument has the highest pitch of the woodwinds
  • Fife & drum corps often use this higher-pitched woodwind whose name means "small"
  • This orchestral instrument is an octave higher than an ordinary flute
  • It makes the sound heard here:
  • The French call this musical instrument la petite flute
  • This smaller type of transverse flute is pitched one octave higher than a regular concert flute
  • This smallest member of the flute family sounds an octave higher than an ordinary flute
  • Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' concerto for this smallest member of the flute family lasts only 15 minutes