1. Plural of chalumeau; a single-reed woodwind instrument, predecessor to the modern clarinet, with a warm, mellow tone.
Usage: musical instrument; historical
2. In music, the lowest register of the clarinet, characterized by a soft, woody sound.
Usage: musical terminology; technical

Examples

• The baroque ensemble featured two chalumeaus that produced a distinctive warm tone.
• Early 18th-century composers wrote beautiful passages for chalumeaus in their chamber works.
• The clarinetist used the chalumeau register to achieve a soft, intimate sound in the slow movement.
• Chalumeaus were popular in European court music before the clarinet became standardized.
• The musician's collection included several historical chalumeaus from different regions.