Top 10 Rare Orchestral Instruments

The typical orchestra most people are familiar with is divided into four sections: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Each section generally contains about four instruments, with the exception of percussion. However, many composers venture beyond the standard setup, incorporating instruments that are rarely seen in a traditional orchestra. Below, we've listed ten such uncommon instruments, not in any specific order:

10. Organ

The pipe organ is one of the oldest wind instruments, with its origins tracing back to the 3rd century BC in ancient Greece. Early versions of the organ looked quite different from what we are familiar with today, using water power to generate the air pressure needed to move air through the pipes. Modern pipe organs, however, are much more complex, featuring multiple keyboards (including one for the feet) and an array of stops. The video included demonstrates one of the most famous and awe-inspiring organ pieces: J.S. Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

I’ve combined these two instruments because, from an outsider’s perspective, a baritone is essentially a smaller euphonium. The euphonium is often referred to as the ‘mini tuba’ in wind or marching bands, though its pitch range is much higher than a tuba’s. These instruments are rarely seen in orchestras, instead making their home in big bands and marching bands. The video below features a euphonium duet performing the tune ‘Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms’, based on a poem by Thomas Moore.

The saxophone is arguably the most recognizable instrument on this list, with few competitors in terms of fame. It’s a single-reed instrument, much like the clarinet. While it's primarily associated with jazz, the saxophone has also made appearances in pop music, most famously in the iconic solo from Gerry Rafferty’s ‘Baker Street’, which you can hear in the video. Though the saxophone has only been incorporated into orchestras in more recent times, appearing in late Romantic and early 20th-century works, it gained popularity in mainstream culture due in part to Lisa Simpson, whose beloved ‘sax-a-ma-phone’ introduced it to a whole new generation.

What more is there to say about the piano? Besides perhaps the guitar, it stands as one of the most famous instruments worldwide. The piano often serves as an accompaniment for soloists, though thousands of pieces have been composed specifically for piano alone. In orchestral settings, it tends to shine as a solo instrument, often featured in concertos and similar compositions. The sheer volume of piano music available is staggering, but for this list, I chose a personal favorite—a beautiful duet composed by Danny Elfman for Tim Burton’s ‘The Corpse Bride’.

The celesta is a keyboard instrument that resembles a piano, but instead of strings being struck by hammers, the hammers hit metal tubes suspended above wooden resonators. It was created in Paris during the late 1880s. Tchaikovsky, the first major composer to use the celesta, most famously featured it in ‘Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies’ from his ballet ‘The Nutcracker’. While I couldn't find any excellent performance videos of the celesta, one clip demonstrates its basic sound.

The Cor Anglais is likely the most common among these ‘unusual’ instruments, typically played by an oboist. It is longer than an oboe, tuned a 5th lower, and features a pear-shaped bell at the end. Unlike the oboe, where the reed is inserted directly into the instrument, the cor anglais has a bent crook that connects the reed. Its name, which translates to ‘English horn,’ is misleading, as the cor anglais is neither English nor a horn. For further details on the name’s origin, consult the Wikipedia entry. A video accompanying this explanation shows a cor anglais player performing ‘The Swan’ from Saint-Saëns’ ‘Carnival of the Animals.’

The alto flute is essentially a longer version of the standard flute, with a deeper tone. It serves a similar purpose to the piccolo, enhancing the flute section. However, unlike the piccolo, which is pitched an octave higher, the alto flute is pitched a fourth below the normal flute. There are two main variations of the alto flute: one with a neck that bends back towards the player for easier finger reach, often chosen by smaller players, and the other, a simple longer flute. A video showcasing an arrangement of Pachelbel’s ‘Canon in D’ for three alto flutes and a harpsichord (keyboard) demonstrates the alto flute’s unique sound.

The bass clarinet is a much larger version of the Bb clarinet, featuring a curved mouthpiece and a bell resembling that of a saxophone. It is pitched one octave lower than a standard Bb clarinet, delivering a much richer, deeper tone. Invented in the late 1700s, its modern design was finalized by Adolph Sax in 1838, with earlier versions developed in Germany and France. The video from 1961 features Eric Dolphy playing a solo on the bass clarinet in ‘God Bless This Child’.

As a bassoon and contrabassoon player myself, I have to say this is my personal favorite on the list. The contrabassoon is nearly double the length of a standard bassoon, reaching almost 16 feet of tubing! It is pitched a full octave lower than the regular bassoon, which, for context, is just a semitone above the lowest note on a piano. It typically rests on a spike at the bottom, much like a contrabass or cello, rather than being supported by a seat strap or sling. Playing it requires a tremendous amount of breath, much more than the bassoon, and its lowest notes can actually make the entire room shake! In the video, the ‘Super Mario Bassoon Quartet’ performs a special arrangement of their piece featuring a contrabassoon as well.

Bonus: Harmonica

After watching this performance at the BBC Proms this year, I just had to add it to the list. This is the only piece of music I’ve seen where a harmonica is played alongside an orchestra—truly a unique experience! I can’t recall the exact piece, but I do know it’s a film score composed by a British composer.

So here’s my first list! Feel free to share any feedback or constructive criticism. For those wondering, I left out the piccolo because nearly all the large orchestral pieces I’ve performed, as well as many smaller ones, have already featured it.

Notable Omissions: Electric Guitar, Drumkit

Contributor: dangorironhide