Q: What is the history of the piccolo?

A: The piccolo can be traced back to as early as the Middle Ages, when a high-pitched flute was used as a military instrument since it could be heard above battles (similar to a fife). The first “traditional piccolos” were used in some of the 18th-century French composer Jean-Philippe Rameau’s works. It is said that one of the first pieces to use the piccolo in an orchestra was German composer Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor, in the last movement.

Q: Where can we hear the piccolo?

A: With how high the piccolo is, more like where CAN’T you hear the piccolo – am I right? In all seriousness, the piccolo is used in a wide range of performances and settings, from solo pieces to wind and military bands to orchestras. Some solo pieces would be Antonio Vivaldi’s 3 Piccolo Concertos (originally for flautino, a small recorder), Martin Amlin’s Piccolo Sonata, and Amanda Herberg’s Sonata for Piccolo and Piano. In wind/military bands, the piccolo has a famous association with John Philip Sousa, particularly for the solo in “Stars and Stripes Forever,” a favorite of July 4th performances. From the beautiful long lines of the solo from Shostakovich’s 6th Symphony to the almost militaristic style solo of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, and from the fast, joyous solo in the Troika from Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kije to the cold, lonely solo from the 5th movement of Mahler’s Second Symphony, the piccolo adds a wide range of colors, expressions, and characters to any piece. One of the most famous solos for piccolo is from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F minor, where the piccolo sits on stage doing nothing for two movements and then comes in on a fast, high solo entrance.

Q: Who are some famous piccolo players?

A: There are quite a few flutists who specialize in piccolo! Cynthia Meyers of the Boston Symphony, Zart Dombourian-Eby of the Seattle Symphony, Egor Egorkin of the Berlin Philharmonic, Jennifer Gunn of the Chicago Symphony, and Erica Peel of the Philadelphia Orchestra, to name a few.

Q: Do all flutists play the piccolo?

A: Not all flutists play the piccolo since it can be a little intimidating with the size and the shrillness of the piccolo. I recommend that all flutists have at least a basic understanding of the piccolo and how to get a good sound, since many pieces call for both flute and piccolo. There are many more opportunities for performances if you play piccolo in addition to flute! If it sparks joy in your life like it did in mine, go for it!

Q: How much does a piccolo cost?

A: The piccolo can come in a wide price range depending on the level, maker, model, and material. Some student piccolos can cost as little as a few hundred dollars and range up to at least $ 8,000. One of the most important parts about buying a piccolo (as with any instrument) is whether you feel good playing it!