# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/21 "2013-02-06T14:46:52Z")
Oboe and French horn duked it out, and French horn won. Third place is a tie between bassoon and timpani. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/22 "2013-02-06T15:34:03Z")
I play French horn so that’s my choice. But the cello is also near and dear to my heart. My dad (RIP) played cello. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/23 "2013-02-06T15:35:00Z")
Moving to CS. ---
**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 6, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/24 "2013-02-06T15:42:17Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > No love for the triangle?! I would have voted for the triangle if it was in the list. It’s the instrument I’m least awful at playing. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/25 "2013-02-06T15:43:26Z")
I’m voting for the harp. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/26 "2013-02-06T16:08:29Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > 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. :eek: :mad: ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/27 "2013-02-06T16:16:31Z")
Oboe, because it sounds like a clarinet with a cold, and I just love that… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/28 "2013-02-06T16:21:01Z")
Cello has always been an incredibly sexy instrument to me, and I’ve always been fond of the reedy, piercing sound of oboes. Bassoons are nice, but a little too low rangy and “farty” for me. Clarinets are a little too “clean” and pure. Flutes (although not reeds, but often lumped in with them), a bit too dainty and airy for me. Oboes have a nice character to them, with a little roughness to their tone. I’m actually a little surprised that oboes are doing as well in this poll as they are. I’m also a bit surprised by the popularity of the French horn here (another instrument I do like.) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/29 "2013-02-06T17:23:12Z")
And of course, the violas are the Rodney Dangerfield of the orchestra. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/30 "2013-02-06T17:38:38Z")
Glad to see you bozos are overwhelmingly going with the right answer here, the cello. Your complete lack of taste in the [pudding poll](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=681269) had me wondering about you all. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/31 "2013-02-06T18:12:59Z")
We seem to be missing the low brass, and while Tuba may not have garnered many votes, I’m surprised to be the first one to point out the lack of Trombone. The Mozart Requiem, Brahms Fourth Symphony and Mahler’s Third Symphony would be much less beautiful without the trombone parts. ---
**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 6, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/32 "2013-02-06T18:42:08Z")
And the 1812 Overture is a waste of time without the cannons. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/33 "2013-02-06T19:35:22Z")
It really is a toss-up between cello and french horn for me. One of the reasons I like the cello so much is because it’s supposed to be the instrument with a range closest to the human voice. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/34 "2013-02-06T19:39:22Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > And the 1812 Overture is a waste of time without the cannons. Even with. Why can’t poor Tchaikovsky’s fame rest on Eugene Onegin, Queen of Spades or the last three symphonies instead of 1812? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/35 "2013-02-06T20:01:41Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Even with. Why can’t poor Tchaikovsky’s fame rest on Eugene Onegin, Queen of Spades or the last three symphonies instead of 1812? Because those don’t have CANNONS! Duh! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/36 "2013-02-06T20:05:32Z")
I guess; Pachelbel has nothing but a Canon, and look what it’s done for him! Sorry, I just had to… ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/37 "2013-02-06T20:09:00Z")
If we could stretch the classical orchestra’s range, so to speak, back a few centuries, we could include the [sackbutt.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sackbut) Not that it’s that great an instrument, I just like to say “sackbutt.” And it’s forerunner of the [tromboon.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tromboon#Tromboon) > [@LawMonkey](#): > > No love for the triangle? Sure, love triangles. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/38 "2013-02-06T20:10:17Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Even with. Why can’t poor Tchaikovsky’s fame rest on Eugene Onegin, Queen of Spades or the last three symphonies instead of 1812? Come now. Tchaikovsky’s fame clearly rests primarily on the Nutcracker. Note that this in no way damages your point. ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/39 "2013-02-06T20:16:33Z")
The clarinet is a weedy-sounding thing, unpleasant even when someone skilled is playing it. try listening to Sifney Bichet ---
**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 6, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403/40 "2013-02-06T20:20:08Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > And the 1812 Overture is a waste of time without the cannons. This is why I decided to limit the poll to Wiki’s definition of the “Classical Orchestra”. Otherwise I’d find myself having to include every instrument ever known to have been used in any orchestral context. But I like the additional choices, so keep 'em coming. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-classical-orchestra-instrument/649403.md?page=3)