Highest Note in a Chord

In well balanced orchestral chords consisting of several instrumental colours (e.g. a chord that is orchestrated in the woodwind section) the instrument on the highest note will dominate its colour impression. This means that even in a chord that has more reedy sound qualities (e.g. oboes), a (or possibly two) flute(s) as a highest note will make the chord impression considerably “flute-y”.

Remember that this only applies to well balanced chords. If individual instruments/notes in a chord stick out due to a higher dynamic or a placement in a thick register (low oboes) or the other way around: the flute being in a weak low register, this will not apply.