Trivia
Why are horns included in woodwind quintets?
There is a genre of classical chamber music written for groups known as woodwind quintet (or wind quintet). A quintet is composed of five instruments: a flute, an oboe, a bassoon, a clarinet, and a horn. The first four in this list are all woodwinds, so why is the horn (a brass instrument) included in these groups?
Since the heyday of classical music when wind ensembles were most popular, horns have always performed together with woodwinds. When it comes to other brass instruments, the trumpet has long been a noble instrument associated with the court and the military, and the trombone has been seen as a sacred instrument for performing at churches. The horn has been the only brass instrument within reach of the common people, making it easier for them to enjoy. Since wind ensembles first took shape in an age where there was no clear sense of any distinction between woodwinds and brass, and at some point along the way the group came to be called a woodwind quintet.
(Reference: Compendium of Interesting Wind Instrument Facts, Yamaha Music Media)
Musical Instrument Guide : Horn Contents
Origins
Structure
How to Play
How the Instrument is Made
Choosing an Instrument
Trivia
- Famous horn works
- Concertos
- Mesmerizing fifths
- What does a very long horn sound like?
- The visual effect of "bells up"
- Mozart loved a good prank
- Is that the nature of the horn?
- An instrument by day, and a drinking mug by night
- Horn players can play the Wagner tuba, despite the name
- Why are horns included in woodwind quintets?
- What do you call someone who plays a horn?
- The reason that alto horns are used in brass bands
- What is a Vienna horn?
- Garlands do not deaden sound
- What is the Knopf model?
- New instruments have just been washed