Among the various families of musical instruments, wind instruments are perhaps the first ones we become acquainted with in our lives. The recorder, for example, is possibly the first – and often also the only – instrument we try to play in school or even at preschool. However, the family of wind instruments also includes other instruments, from bagpipes to saxophones.
Firstly, it can be stated that wind instruments are those instruments that can produce sounds through a vibration of air, without using strings or vibrating membranes. Wind instruments are divided into two categories, depending on whether the vibrating air is contained in the instrument itself – as is the case with flutes, reeds, and brasses – or not. The family of flutes includes popular instruments like the recorder and the transverse flute, as well as less common instruments such as the piccolo and the ocarina. The term “reeds” refers to those instruments, like the clarinet, that have a thin plastic strip, called a reed, at the end of the mouthpiece, which vibrates with the pressure of the air. In addition to clarinets, this family also includes instruments such as saxophones, oboes, and bagpipes. The brass section includes instruments in which the reed is made from the mouth of the player, such as trumpets and trombones.
An example of aerophones in which the air is not contained in the instrument is free reed instruments. This category includes instruments in which the vibration is caused by an elastic reed, such as harmonicas, accordions, harmoniums, and bandoneons.
If you have a passion for musical instruments, particularly wind instruments, there are museums that you should visit. Not many museums are primarily focused on this family, but the Musée des Instruments à Vent in La Couture-Boussey, France, and the Museo Etnografico of Turin, Italy, are among the most important ones. The French museum is located in a city known for the production of wind instruments since the 17th century, and preserves some rare pieces: English horns, oboes, clarinets, recorders, and transverse flutes. The Quarna Museum, too, is located in a city where the production of wind instruments is particularly significant. The Museo Etnografico e dello Strumento of Quarno includes a section on handmade instruments, which can also help you understand more about how these instruments are made, as well as a section on the history of the village. The musical instrument section includes over 300 pieces – some of them rare – such as bassoons, clarinets, oboes, saxophones, wooden flutes, trumpets, trombones, and brass horns. The museum also has interesting educational activities, music events, concerts, and competitions.
Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME