The name piccolo is an abbreviation of flauto piccolo, which is Italian for little flute. Early on, it was called the fife, and was used in military bands for hundreds of years.

Composer: Britten Piece: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra Conductor: Britten

	The piccolo is the smallest member of the orchestra flute family; it is half the length of the regular flute, and it plays an octave higher. The tube is conical, made out of metal or wood, and has the same keywork mechanism as the flute.