1. A single-reed woodwind instrument that is a predecessor of the modern clarinet, popular in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Usage: historical; musical instrument
2. In music, the lowest register of the clarinet, characterized by a warm, mellow tone.
Usage: musical terminology

Examples

• The chalumeau was a popular instrument in European courts during the Baroque period.
• Musicians often study the chalumeau to understand the historical development of the clarinet.
• The composer wrote a beautiful solo for the chalumeau register of the clarinet.
• Early jazz musicians exploited the warm tones of the chalumeau register.
• The chalumeau's double reed produced a distinctive buzzing sound that influenced later instrument design.