woodwinds

1. A group of wind instruments with a softer tone than that of brass instruments. Woodwind players do not set the air in their instruments in motion by blowing through their closed lips against a cup-shaped mouthpiece, as players of brass instruments do. In woodwinds, the players insert the mouthpiece into their mouths and blow while pressing their lips against a single or double reed . Bassoons , clarinets , oboes , and saxophones are played in this way. In other woodwinds, the player blows across a hole ( fifes , flutes , and piccolos ) or into a whistlelike mouthpiece ( recorders ).

Example Sentences

In the often exquisite score, the strings throb and the woodwinds flutter.

From New York Times

The woodwinds handed off phrases with snappy coordination.

From New York Times

The Piano Concerto No. 25 was here fast and punchy, with fullness rather than finesse, and fizzy strings, bullish horns and swooning woodwinds.

From New York Times

Instead, “New Blue Sun,” due out Friday, “is an entirely instrumental album centered around woodwinds,” according to an announcement on Tuesday.

From New York Times

“Everybody spoke about the brass of the Chicago Symphony. Nobody spoke about the strings. Nobody spoke about the woodwinds,” Muti said Monday in his photo-filled office beneath the auditorium.

From Seattle Times