aracter, or to outbursts of
mirth; in the minor, to sad and reflective melodies or impassioned and
dramatic passages.

d) Bassoon.--In the major, an atmosphere of senile mockery; a sad,
ailing quality in the minor.

In the extreme registers these instruments convey the following
impressions to my mind:

_Low register_ _Very high register_

a) Flute-- Dull, cold Brilliant
b) Oboe-- Wild Hard, dry
c) Clarinet-- Ringing, threatening Piercing
d) Bassoon-- Sinister Tense.

_Note._ It is true that no mood or frame of mind, whether it
be joyful or sad, meditative or lively, careless or
reflective, mocking or distressed can be aroused by one
single isolated timbre; it depends more upon the general
melodic line, the harmony, rhythm, and dynamic shades of
expression, upon the whole formation of a given piece of
music. The choice of instruments and timbre to be adopted
depends on the position which melody and harmony occupy in
the seven-octave scale of the orchestra; for example, a
melody of light character in the tenor register could not be
given to the flutes, or a sad, plaintive phrase in the high
soprano register confided to the bassoons. But the ease with
which tone colour can be adapted to expression must not be
forgotten, and in the first of these two cases it may be
conceded that the mocking character of the bassoon could
easily and quite naturally assume a light-hearted aspect,
and in the second case, that the slightly melancholy timbre
of the flute is somewhat related to the feeling of sorrow
and distress with which the passage is to be permeated. The
case of a melody coinciding in character with the instrument
on which it is played is of special importance, as the
effect produced cannot fail to be successful. There are also
moments when a composer's artistic feeling prompts him to
employ instruments, the character of which is at variance
with the written melody (for eccentric, grotesque effects,
etc.).

The following remarks illustrate the characteristics, timbre, and
employment of special instruments:

The duty of the piccolo and small clarinet is, principally, to extend
the range of the ordinary flute and clarinet in the high register. The
whistling, piercing quality of the piccolo in its highe