# Favorite Classical Orchestra Instrument **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403 "2013-02-05T18:06:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/1 "2013-02-05T18:06:45Z")
What is your favorite instrument from what may be called the [Classical Orchestra](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestra)? For me, it is without question the oboe, which while perhaps not having the greatest emotional range, is the one whose sound and piercing beauty always gets to me. A talented oboist could play “Happy Birthday” in a way that could make me cry. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/2 "2013-02-05T18:26:12Z")
Well obviously the bassoon. Just the name is enjoyable to say. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/3 "2013-02-05T20:34:56Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Well obviously the bassoon. Just the name is enjoyable to say. Concur. And I love all of those overtones. ---
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/4 "2013-02-05T20:56:32Z")
I play violin, so I voted that. I like the romantic pieces. I did one for my recent state audition (it was on February 2nd, 2013), and it was the [Romance in F by Beethoven](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz4JEYQ8ebU). I love that piece. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/5 "2013-02-05T21:18:10Z")
**TubaDiva** will not be pleased when she finds out what you have done. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/6 "2013-02-05T21:22:10Z")
I played the timpani in the HS band so I’m going with them. French horn is a close second… they sound way cool in orchestra or rock n roll. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/7 "2013-02-05T21:31:50Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > I played the timpani in the HS band so I’m going with them. French horn is a close second… they sound way cool in orchestra or rock n roll. Agreed. The brief use of a French Horn near the beginning of the Rolling Stones’ [“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKeSRsy2l9E&t=0m48s) is one of the finest moments in all of rock. It’s definitely the instrument second on my list. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/8 "2013-02-06T03:52:00Z")
Flute, with French horn as second choice. Mozart wrote some great music for both… ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/9 "2013-02-06T04:31:33Z")
Violin. I’ll go out on a limb and say it has possibly the widest continuous range of timbres on a single instrument, from its highest ethereal overtones to its midrange, lyrical or rich and romantic, and finally to its dramatic and sometimes brutal low notes. In legend the devil is often said to play it, and it’s obvious why. After that, French horn. Then close behind and in no particular order, oboe, cor anglais, cello, flute, harp. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/10 "2013-02-06T05:40:01Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Well obviously the bassoon. Just the name is enjoyable to say. The big bassoon, by the light of the moon, was combing its auburn hare. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/11 "2013-02-06T05:44:01Z")
Violin, perhaps because it is the only one of these instruments that I can play. French horn and oboe are a close second and third. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/12 "2013-02-06T06:11:44Z")
I voted for flute, but only because the [tromba marina](http://www.trombamarina.com/instruments/tromba-marina/) wasn’t on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/13 "2013-02-06T06:34:38Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > What is your favorite instrument from what may be called the [Classical Orchestra](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestra)? For me, it is without question the oboe, which while perhaps not having the greatest emotional range, is the one whose sound and piercing beauty always gets to me. A talented oboist could play “Happy Birthday” in a way that could make me cry. The Wall Street Journal once called the oboe “the ill woodwind that nobody blows good.” ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/14 "2013-02-06T06:54:45Z")
Bassoon, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![steviep24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@steviep24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steviep24)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/15 "2013-02-06T10:38:30Z")
Violin mainly because of Pachelbel’s Canon in D. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/16 "2013-02-06T13:14:19Z")
It’s not surprising the clarinet got so few votes (though odd it outpolled the viola). The clarinet is a weedy-sounding thing, unpleasant even when someone skilled is playing it. ---
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/17 "2013-02-06T13:34:04Z")
> [@steviep24](#): > > Violin mainly because of Pachelbel’s Canon in D. I don’t know about anyone else, but I am _tired_ of this song. I don’t understand what makes it so popular, but it seems rather boring to me. Real men play romantic pieces by Beethoven and Dvorak. At least, I do. One of my favorites by Dvorak is the New World Symphony. I also like the Serenade in E Major. As for Beethoven, I love his Romance in F Major as stated in my first post in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/18 "2013-02-06T13:54:12Z")
Glad to see so many bassoon fans. My daughter played it since grade school, and it was always a joy to hear it echoing through the house. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/19 "2013-02-06T14:15:04Z")
No love for the triangle?! The violin for me as well. It’s the heart and soul of the orchestra, and also the one that I used to pretend to play. No violin, and you’ve just got a sedentary marching band. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/20 "2013-02-06T14:39:07Z")
I feel I ought to have voted for the Cello, which I play, but I was seduced by the rich range of notes offered by the French Horn. And now I have Mozart’s horn concerto as a nice ear worm for the rest of the afternoon. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403.md?page=2)