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piccolo

piccolo

5 7.5
A small flute that sounds much higher than a regular flute
  • noun
  • /ˈpɪkəloʊ/
translation icon : piccolo
  • " Think of what it would sound like without the strings—with just the tuba and piccolo playing together. "
  • piccolo and trumpet

The other piccolo that I have has the typical piccolo sound.

Examples

  • But would you want to hear "Stars and Stripes Forever" without the piccolo?

    Blog text (30)
  • The same person may group the flute, piccolo, and trumpet because they all have holes at the top.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Now, the first musical number on the program... will be a piccolo solo which we will skip.

  • Asta, where did you put that piccolo part?

  • "I think if I went back to a show that was just a flute and a piccolo, I would feel lost.

    Blog text (20)
  • When I was six years old, I decided that I wanted to play the piccolo, only to find that my fingers were just too powerful for that fragile little instrument.

  • For instruments of more limited range, such as piccolo or double bass, the registers themselves will dictate which sections students should play and which sections they should not play.

    Academic text (2000)
  • In 1971, 89 percent recognized a piccolo, and 60 percent identified a violin and a cello in a Bach piece.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Gustav's brow furrowed as he gazed toward the piccolo pipes before him.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The orchestra featured a piccolo that added a bright melody to the performance.

Synonyms

fife
vspiccolo
4 9.3

A small high-pitched flute that musicians play with drums in marching bands

has a high pitch an octave above the standard flute instead of shrill sound

How High

piccolo
5 7.5
flute
75 1.5
violin
159 1.8
cello
69 3.9
double bass
1 3.6

Surface Forms

piccolo singular
piccolos plural

Etymology

The word piccolo comes from the Italian piccolo, which means 'small', so the instrument is simply the 'small' flute. That's why a piccolo makes a very high, bright sound above the regular flute.