Orchestration Abbreviations

Orchestration Values and Instrument Abbreviations for Sheet Music

An abbreviated notation is used throughout the Carolyn Nussbaum Music Company's Sheet Music catalog to describe, in detail, the intended orchestration(s) for each piece or collection of music. By combining instrument abbreviations according to the rules described below to construct an Orchestration Value, we are able to provide vital information to our customers, and/or the performer, about each piece, while making it easier to organize and search our extensive collection beyond the more general instrumentation categories.

We have done our best to identify each piece's orchestration(s) as accurately as possible based on available data but cannot be held responsible for errors or subjective interpretations in the absence of published public data. Please feel free to contact us if you believe there to be an error in our database, as we are always trying to improve our database in the spirit of customer service. We hope you find this information helpful. Please remember we are always available to help you with your search and selection from our vast flute sheet music catalog, so feel free to contact us if we can be of assistance.

IF "CD" is listed, Your music may only include a digital download and not an actual CD.

Understanding the construction of the Orchestration Value:

  • All instrument abbreviations are lowercase and include no punctuation
  • Each orchestration is composed of instrument abbreviations separated by a comma followed by a space. In the example: "fl, vn, pn" the orchestration consists of flute, violin and piano.
  • Multiples of the same instrument in an orchestration are denoted by the number preceding the instrument abbreviation with a space between. In the example: "3 fl, al fl, pn" there are three flutes, an alto flute and a piano.
  • Optional quantities of a particular instrument in an orchestration are denoted by the minimum and maximum numbers of the instrument separated by a hyphen preceding the instrument abbreviation with a space between. In the example: "fl, 1-3 al fl, pn" there is a flute, anywhere from one to three alto flutes and a piano.
  • When two or more instruments are scored on the same part, a slash is used to separate the two instrument abbreviations. In the example: "2 fl/2 pc", the piece is scored for either two flutes or two piccolos.
  • Instrument abbreviations identified with a * in the below table imply a voice instrument of a particular type. These same abbreviations may precede, and be used in combination with, another instrument abbreviation to define a variant of the common form of the instrument. In the example “sop, sop sax” the orchestration consists of a soprano voice and a soprano saxophone.
  • Instrument abbreviations identified with a ** in the below table cannot be used alone and MUST precede, and be used in combination with, another instrument abbreviation. These specific abbreviations modify the definition of the instrument which they precede. In the example: “amp gtr, e cl, opt pc” the orchestration consists of an amplified guitar, a clarinet pitched in E flat, and an optional piccolo.
  • An instrument abbreviation followed by a space and a number implies a part being played by one or more of that instrument. In the example "fl, 2 al fl, vn 1" the orchestration consists of a flute, two alto flutes and a part for the first violin.
  • Each piece of sheet music may have more than one orchestration defined in its Orchestration Value. In these circumstances each orchestration is separated by a semicolon followed by a space. In the example: "fl, pn; al fl, pn", there are two possible orchestrations; the first for flute and piano and the second for alto flute and piano.
  • Finally, the order of instruments within a particular orchestration is subjective although we have tried to be consistent across our database when the orchestration is the same. Therefore the examples: "fl, al fl, vn, pn" and "fl, vn, al fl, pn" are the same orchestration.
AbbreviationDescription
a**instrument pitched in A
amp**amplified
al*alto
b**instrument pitched in B flat
bandband
bar*baritone
bcthe set includes a keyboard part with an optional basso part, often a cello
bonbongo
bs*bass
bsnbassoon
btlbottle
bwboomwhackers
c**instrument pitched in C
cdcompact disc (may be as a digital download)
clclarinet
ctrbs*contrabass
clvclave
ctral*contra-alto
d**insturment pitched in D flat
dmdrum
e**instrument pitched in E flat
elecelectric/electronics
enhnenglish horn
eupheuphonium
f**instrument pitched in F
fiffife
flxensflexible ensemble (instrumentation can be tailored to ensemble needs)
flflute in C
flugflugel horn
AbbreviationDescription
g**instrument pitched in G
gtrguitar
hbhandbell
hjheadjoint
hpcdharpsichord
hpharp
hnhorn
kydkeyboard
mrmarimba
mz*mezzo
naflnative american flute
narnarrator
oboboe
opt**optional
orchorchestra
orgorgan
panflpan flute
pcpiccolo
percpercussion
pnwhpennywhistle
pnpiano
recrecorder
saxsaxophone
sndmsnare drum
sop*soprano
stbsstring bass
storchstring orchestra
tamtam tam
tambtambourine
tn*tenor
tmtimpani
tnwhtin whistle
tppre-recorded tape
AbbreviationDescription
tpttrumpet
trmtrombone
tbtuba
vbvibraphone
vaviola
vnviolin
vccello
vcevoice (non-specific)
wstwhistle
xylxylophone