A concert band, also called a wind band, wind ensemble, wind symphony, wind orchestra, symphonic band, the symphonic winds, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of members of the woodwind, brass, and percussion families of instruments, and occasionally including the harp, double bass, or bass guitar. On rare occasions, additional, non-traditional instruments may be added to such ensembles such as piano, synthesizer, or electric guitar.
A full concert band—Indiana Wind Symphony in concert, 2014
A military band—The United States Army Band
A high school concert band—BHS Band in performance, 2013
The early instrumentation of a large concert band (including violin soloist Nicoline Zedeler) is shown by the John Philip Sousa Band during their 1911 world tour.
Woodwind instruments are a family of musical instruments within the greater category of wind instruments. Common examples include flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone. There are two main types of woodwind instruments: flutes and reed instruments. The main distinction between these instruments and other wind instruments is the way in which they produce sound. All woodwinds produce sound by splitting the air blown into them on a sharp edge, such as a reed or a fipple. Despite the name, a woodwind may be made of any material, not just wood. Common examples of other materials include brass, silver, cane, and other metals such as gold and platinum. The saxophone, for example, though made of brass, is considered a woodwind because it requires a reed to produce sound. Occasionally, woodwinds are made of earthen materials, especially ocarinas.
Woodwind instruments at the Museu de la Música de Barcelona.
Tenor and soprano saxophones
Alto and tenor saxophone reeds
A piper playing the bagpipes in Newport, Rhode Island