What are the differences between flute, piccolo, recorder and Xiao?
Flute, piccolo, recorder, and xiao are four different musical instruments, which are very different in appearance, material, timbre, and playing skills.
The flute is the main high-pitched melody instrument in modern orchestral and chamber music. It is a long cylindrical tube with several sound holes. Early flutes were made of ebony or coconut wood, but modern flutes are mostly made of metal. Instrument characteristics: fresh, thorough, and cold in tone. The treble is lively and bright, and the bass is beautiful and pleasant. It is widely used in wind bands, orchestras and military bands.
The piccolo is the woodwind instrument with the highest range, a variant of the flute family, and one of the instruments with the highest range in the symphony orchestra. Piccolo must be played by those who have practiced the flute very well. It is more difficult to play than the flute and has a higher timbre than the flute. Contains three octaves. Because the timbre is sharp, penetrating, and controlled, judicious use can make the entire band's music sound louder, more powerful, and more brilliant. It is often used to express victory, triumph, enthusiastic dance, or describe the howling of the wind in a storm.
The recorder is a woodwind instrument with a long history in Europe. It has been used since the Middle Ages. It originated in Italy in the 15th century and became popular in European countries from the 16th to the 18th century. The sound of the recorder is pure, clear, soft and light, and is known as the "soft flute" and "the flute that sings like a bird".
Xiao is divided into Dongxiao and Qinxiao, both of which are single-tube and vertical. It is a very ancient wind instrument in ancient China. The flute has a long history, has a mellow and soft tone, is quiet and elegant, and is suitable for solos and ensembles. It is usually made of bamboo with the blow hole at the upper end. According to the number of "sound holes", it is divided into six-hole flute and eight-hole flute. The six-hole flute has five sound holes in the front and one in the back, while the eight-hole flute has seven sound holes in the front and one in the back. The eight-hole flute is a product of modern improvements.