chalumeau

/ˌʃælʊˈmoʊ/
noun
  1. An early single-reed woodwind instrument, a predecessor of the clarinet.
    • The chalumeau has a soft, reedy sound.
    • She learned to play the chalumeau before moving on to the clarinet.
    • The museum displayed a chalumeau from the 1700s.
  2. The lowest register of the clarinet.
    • The clarinetist played a beautiful melody in the chalumeau register.
    • In this piece, the chalumeau section creates a dark, warm tone.
    • He practiced scales in the chalumeau register to improve his low notes.
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