PICCOLO

Piccolo. Click on the audio icons beneath the art to hear the sound of a piccolo. The selection in full flauto piccolo (Italian: small flute), highest pitched woodwind instrument of orchestras and military bands. It is a small transverse (horizontally played) flute of conical or cylindrical bore, fitted with Boehm-system keywork and pitched an octave higher than the ordinary concert flute. The piccolo's compass extends three octaves upward from the second D above middle C. Its orchestral use dates from the late 18th century, when it replaced the flageolet (also called flauto piccolo). A six-keyed piccolo in D was formerly used in military bands to facilitate playing in flat keys.