The Orchestral Woodwind Section: An Introduction (Philharmonia Orchestra)

The woodwind section is one of the most sonically diverse sections of the orchestra. How do these instruments balance the dual role of soloist and ensemble player? How do they blend their sounds when they're so different? How has their use in classical music changed over the centuries? Find out all of their secrets in this film.
Discover the rest of our videos on the woodwind section in our playlist: • Woodwind Instruments (...
Chapters / Music:
00:00 - The woodwind section in the late Classical period
HAYDN
Symphony No. 104 (London) in D major
I. Adagio - Allegro
02:45 - The dual role of soloist and ensemble musician
BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21
I. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
06:56 - The section grows
BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
IV. Allegro - Presto
SAINT-SAËNS
Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78
II. Allegro moderato - Presto - Maestoso - Allegro
10:04 - Blending the sound
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Scheherazade, Op. 35
I. The Sea and Sinbad's Ship
14:36 - Breathing together
DEBUSSY
Nocturnes, L. 91
I. Nuages
16:48 - Harmonies
RAVEL
Ma mère l'Oye
V. Le jardin féerique
19:49 - Articulation
MENDELSSOHN
Symphony No. 4 (Italian) in A major, Op. 90
I. Allegro vivace
21:14 - Practice
DEBUSSY
Nocturnes, L. 91
II. Fêtes
24:05 - Variety of colours
BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 3 (Eroica) in E-flat major, Op. 55
II. Marcia funebre: Adagio assai
26:01 - Balance
DVOŘÁK
Symphony No. 9 (From the New World) in E minor, Op. 95, B. 178
III. Scherzo: Molto vivace - Poco sostenuto
27:05 - Expressive intensity
DEBUSSY
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L. 86
30:04 - Far more than the sum of their parts
MUSSORGSKY arr. RAVEL
Pictures at an Exhibition
10. The Great Gate of Kiev
The Philharmonia is a world-class symphony orchestra, led by Principal Conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali.
Based in London at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, resident in cities and at festivals across England, and touring internationally, the Philharmonia creates thrilling performances for a global audience. Find out more about us on our website: philharmonia.co.uk/
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[@appelanseeofbogalusa5235]

Please keep this up. This is the music education that we do not receive in our general schools. You’re creating a good environment for budding classical musicians who want a larger grasp on how the sections work. Thank you ❤️

[@philharmonia_orchestra]

Thank you for you lovely feedback!

[@famburgmeier3778]

An introduction to the Brass section will be very much appreciated!

[@playandteach]

I wonder how many people realise how difficult the seemingly easy opening at 11:00 really is. There's real value in these videos. I hope they continue.

[@ariannagorbet6674]

I’m a bassoon fan and this warms my heart.

[@Phi1618033]

The variety of British accents is almost as varied as the colors of the instruments.

[@nevertheless123]

beautiful video.I love how you chronologically go through the use of the WW section by various composers starting from Haydn all the way to the 20th century, Inspired me to write pieces for WW section (I am a beginning composing student) Thank you! There is nothing like hearing bassoon and oboe etc., play live in a room. The purity of the acoustic sound will never go away. So hang on Philharmonia, you will be back!

[@soundyg7441]

Love these breakdowns of each section. I struggle with how to best use the woodwinds when writing, these videos are very useful to get a solid grounding in the strengths of the instruments

[@philharmonia_orchestra]

We're glad this film is useful for composers. Thanks for watching!

[@peteradaniel]

Being a woodwind player is an uphill struggle. I can’t imagine the pressure of being an oboist. Making a sound out of your instrument is difficult enough never mind making a beautiful sound. Then once you’ve mastered the instrument to soloist level, something which isn’t asked of string players, finding a job is like finding a needle in a haystack. I spent the majority of my education in some of the top music institutions in the UK and very few of the wonderful woodwind players I went to school with are performing with any of the major orchestras. So tough.

[@totalmusicfreedom]

What a fantastic set of musical resources! I'm not a classically trained musician (short of a few years of classical guitar as a child) but I am passionate composer of virtual orchestration with virtual instruments (software). The quality and complexity of virtual orchestral instruments today is profound, but like real instruments they take much practice to master (which is not to equate them with learning the real thing. Both take much discipline and commitment). This channel helps me to develop an affinity with those musicians, such as dynamics, breath control and pacing, legato and other articulations, all of which have their equivalent in the virtual orchestration world and are also fiendishly difficult to control and master to produce a great sound. What a fantastic time to be a musician!

[@peterflom6878]

Oboe and bassoon are two of my favorite instruments

[@ariannagorbet6674]

Peter Flom Me too

[@ericmoorev8165]

How are you doing today peter

[@aminthasangel6393]

Thanks, I have been writing music during the last 4 years and all this information really Help! Blessings from Bahia, Brazil!

[@philharmonia_orchestra]

It's great to hear that this film is useful for composers. Thanks for watching!

[@braunhausmedia]

This channel is one of the most informative music channel on KZbin. Thank you so much for providing me with a much needed education.

[@vindharmarajan9320]

Thanks a million. Wonderful lesson on woodwind. Now I can appreciate even more. Gratefully, Vin.

[@clearymallard4076]

Great introduction to this windy section thanks!

[@erikj2155]

Jill on the Cor Anglais is so fun .I watched her other videos.

[@gerardocardenas6591]

Thank you very much for inviting our ears to explore this exclusive world of wind instruments. Really, instructive fascinating video.

[@philharmonia_orchestra]

Thank you for watching!

[@audiomidilab_ok]

Awesome. Usefull and specific information. Many Thanks to all of you!!!

[@philharmonia_orchestra]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@Sophiex7]

My favourite section! Wonderful video. Thank you.

[@TodayTestfbsfbsfbs]

i always wondered about the extreme body language in different sections of the orchestra, now i understand why it is so important, it really fascinates me.

[@markhickling3805]

Woodwind instruments are beautiful sounds

[@IceOfPhoenix88]

I play clarinet so this was very informative and helpful thank you so much

[@JWentu]

always so interesting and fascinating. I do hope there will be also brass and percussion section

[@Ueberschaer]

Well, thanks for that. I am struggling as a composer who is in progrock with some scoring ideas and I appreciate your advices. I guess I can accommodate it in near future.

[@briananderson8428]

What a marvelous bringing together of this beloved section by pristine players for our education. "...much greater than the sum of its parts." Perfect. So many thanks!

[@m.st.6657]

I'm a flutist and it would be so cool to play in the woodwind section of the Philharmonia Orchestra when I'm older...😍

[@JVTechMusic]

thank you so much for such an incredible overview of the woodwinds

[@DavidCarterVideos]

I've been a "non-classical" musician for about half a century now. My father was a huge fan and had a massive record collection of classical music which I was bought up listening to so the appeal kind of rubbed off on me. However, it hasn't been until recently; since I've been delving into the "science" of virtual orchestration with the incredible sample libraries us mere mortals can get these days and play with on a computer, that I've really started getting into "how an orchestra works". I'm even doing an online course in orchestration with strings. This video was excellent. Well presented, interesting and informative and fulfilled an educational need we don't often get in this genre of music. Thank you.

[@bradencutright-head6629]

Awesome video! I’d like to see videos about the brass and percussion sections, as well as the harp/keyboard section.

[@VyacheslavLogutin]

The host is just awesome...

[@ZJStrudwick]

I have met Mr. Bailey, played in his 'family orchestra' project down in Cornwall a few years ago. A highly passionate and inspired musician.

[@ianmintz12806]

@@ZJStrudwick where does he live

[@OlegSutyrin]

Those videos are gems! Thank you very much!

[@amj.composer]

I love this so much. When I write for orchestra, I'll make sure to have significant wind parts!! I can't wait for the brass video

[@ianmintz12806]

There should be videos like this for the brass percussion and keyboard families

[@SZ-ef9lz]

Was für wundervolle Klangfarben! Danke für das sehr interessante und informative Video.

[@jumpingjflash]

Fascinating, I'm speechless!

[@glennoppenheim3265]

Wonderful episode. Well done!

[@Rodflute]

Wonderful video and playing! Thanks for sharing!

[@riffraftmusic8669]

This is great! Beethoven's 5th spotlighting the woodwind section only? So many superlative examples of playing, and the tips from the musicians, themselves make this video a gold mine for any serious student of music.

[@percussionstore3374]

thank you very much for the beautiful music.

[@GSunNo]

Thanks a lot for an excellent video!

[@Banquet...]

Wonderful video - thank you so much for producing it. What brilliant players and fascinating insight into how they think and prepare. I have just bought a Woodwind sample library and this gives me so much inspiration and so many ideas (which will probably end up sounding like Postman Pat in my composition - but I won't let reality dampen my spirit just yet!)

[@philharmonia_orchestra]

Thanks for watching! We're glad you find it inspiring

[@BluemountScore]

Super interesting! Thanks!

[@jordanrodriguez4126]

As a composer, I look for instruments that sound good and will fit the mood in the compositions I make. Very interesting how the section of the woodwinds works in an orchestra.

[@garrisoncluff5367]

I love the diversity of the woodwind section.

[@Camolismo]

Thank you a lot for these absolutely useful videos!

[@ericmoorev8165]

How are you doing today roberto

[@carmelogaa521]

Thank you Philharmonia!

[@KholopovIgor]

Thank you very much!

[@emh7956]

Thank you, that was interesting and well done

[@siddhantpetkar9728]

This was very helpful!

[@as75534]

Wow, these videos are amazing!

[@philharmonia_orchestra]

Glad to hear you like them! Thank you for spending time on the channel.

[@GrumpyOldMan9]

We are all waiting for the Orchestral Brass Section!

[@ariannagorbet6674]

The Woodwind Family (my opinion) Flute: Love it (tied with the bassoon for second favorite instrument) Piccolo: Hurts my ears (Really, it does) Oboe: Love it (I like the bassoon more though/second favorite double reed) English Horn: It’s really nice (My third favorite double reed) Clarinet: Love it (My favorite instrument/favorite single reed) Bassoon: Love it (My favorite double reed/low instrument) Contrabassoon: Eh... (Don’t really like it, I prefer the bassoon)

[@shereebarrett3714]

Luv this!😁👊👁

[@nesma1983]

Perfect

[@colinbradford2671]

Subscribed! The layout and composition has long been a mystery to me but with the help of resources like this and Spitfire Musics’s BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover plug in, I’m getting there…

[@silentobserver3791]

Fabulous video! I really enjoyed being able to listen to the wind part of famous pieces. For non players' benefits, could you please play (or demonstrate) what you mean by technical terms such as "double tonguing"? Thanks.

[@MamaSymphonia]

Why is there so little material available for woodwind choir / section? It has such a nice sound.

[@peterflom6878]

Excellent stuff. It would be nice to have something about earlier music

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

Details I expect only from a friend, Merry Christmas

[@lionmaytree4200]

A beautifull video of the wood section. Beautifully explained and played, but it is a pity that the expansion in the low instruments, seems to me like the orphans of the wood section.

[@parsa.mostaghim]

👌👌👌

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

Mar.25/2023_somehow back here? @26:00 realized [again] value of this video production. Still must confess my lack of any talent. My recorder; {TENOR} 'gently-weeps' in solitude since I've had to admit humbly the reach 'is' difficult, as so many KZbin videos mentioned. The thoughts from real professional artists is awesome, details with depth, inside knowledge only players of great caliber, can express clearly. Fabulous.

[@mr88cet]

Great perspectives here! It would have been good to at least briefly discuss the saxes as well, especially in the Sigurd Rascher classical tradition.

[@nurhabibi922]

Please make a brass and percussion section

[@philharmonia_orchestra]

Watch this space! 👀

[@shereebarrett3714]

My oldest sister went to the oboe, after clarent!👊😁

[@kennethmaese4622]

I would have liked some insight from flautist June and piccolo player Keith

[@JHCMPR]

are you guys working on or are soon going to be working on a brass video i play horn and i’m very excited for the brass section

[@philharmonia_orchestra]

Keep your eyes peeled...

[@blessingsoil1626]

How do I get the intro piece. From Nigeria

[@oliverfrancis1851]

Does Sam (the principle flute) play on gold plated flute ?

[@hudsoncampos2201]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@gabrielvega1260]

Was Mr. Coles' stolen flute ever found? If not, what has he chosen?

[@peterhagan8454]

abs gorgous

[@rodneyfamily8973]

What are the oboes

[@shereebarrett3714]

I played the flute!👊😁

[@kellangearytv1720]

Please make cannons the next instrument guide, pleeeeeease!

[@IceOfPhoenix88]

Mr oboe looks at Mr flute really... disgustedly, but they probably are good friends

[@plcanonica]

I'm just here for online school :(

[@nihaleljadid6368]

School

[@rodneyfamily8973]

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