The sections of a symphony orchestra are aptly named: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion (although woodwinds include the flute, now made of metal). But the names of the instruments themselves are more surprising in origin. Why is “clarinet” based on a word for the trumpet, and why is the English horn, which is neither English nor a horn, so named?
The Latin vitulari meant “to chant joyfully,” and vitula was the word for a stringed instrument, such as a lyre. Vitula and vitulari evolved into the Italian viuola and violino — the English “viola” and “violin.” “Cello” is a shortening of the Italian violoncello, a diminutive of violone, an older Italian name for the string bass.
The French hautbois, literally “high wood,” is the origin of “oboe.” Think of haute cuisine and a haughty person who is high in their own estimation. “Clarinet” is a diminutive of the Italian clarino, which means “trumpet.” This instrument swap happened because historically, trumpets sounded like clarinets in their upper register. “Bassoon” is from the Italian bassone, coming into English via the French basson. “Flute” is of uncertain origin, but it possibly comes from the Latin flatus, meaning “breath, wind,” and “piccolo” is a shortening of the Italian flauto piccolo, meaning “small flute.”
The English horn, meanwhile, is neither English nor a horn (which would be in the brass family). Its name is from a misreading of the French anglé (“angled”) as Anglais (“English”), or possibly the Middle High German engellisch, “angelic.” This latter interpretation is plausible because the predecessor to the English horn, the oboe da caccia, had a curved shape and flared bell, similar to the horns angels were depicted blowing in religious illustrations from the Middle Ages. This also gives us the origin of the “horn” part of the name. The modern English horn is straight with a distinctive bent crook to hold the double reed, making it an angled woodwind instrument.
“Trumpet” is from the Old French trompette and trompe, which were likely imitative words, meaning the sound of the horn inspired the words. “French horn” also has a French connection; it’s ultimately from the type of hunting horn used in France. “Trombone” is from the Italian tromba, a large trumpet, and “tuba” is from the Latin tuba, a straight bronze war trumpet.
“Timpani” (also known as a kettledrum) is from the Latin tympanum, meaning “drum”; “cymbals” are from the Greek “kumbē,” which means “cup.” “Tambourine” is a diminutive, from the Old French tabour, meaning “drum.” “Xylophone” is based on the Greek xylon, meaning “wood.” (Xylem is the woody part of a plant.) “Snare drum” is from the Old English snear, which is a string or cord that produces a rattling vibration. “Gong” is imitative, and “triangle” is self-evident if you’ve seen anyone play it.
Put them all together, and you have a symphony orchestra. “Symphony” is from the Greek symphonia, meaning “harmony of sounds,” and “orchestra,” somewhat confusingly, is from the Greek orkhēstra, the semicircular space where the chorus of dancers performed in front of the stage. Not until the 18th century did “orchestra” refer to a group of musicians performing at a concert or opera.
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