Basic facts about orchestral instruments?

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Answer:

There are four instruments varying in size from the smallest, the violin, to the largest, the double bass. Wind instruments produce sound by vibrating air down a tube. There are usually two rows of wind instruments set out in an orchestra with flutes and oboes sitting in front of the clarinets and bassoons.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is it called where the orchestra sits?

An orchestra pit is the area in a theater (usually located in a lowered area in front of the stage) in which musicians perform.

What is the name of the person who leads the orchestra when they perform?

Conductor

What is orchestra pit seating?

An orchestra pit is the area in a theater (usually located in a lowered area in front of the stage) in which musicians perform. Orchestral pits are utilized in forms of theatre that require music (such as opera and ballet) or in cases when incidental music is required.

How the orchestra was formed and where it originated?

People have been putting instruments together in various combinations for millennia, but it wasn't un- til about 400 years ago that musicians started forming combinations that would eventually turn into the modern orchestra. Around 1600 in Italy, the composer Claudio Monteverdi changed that.

What is the name for the person who stands at the front of an orchestra and waves a stick?

The guy with the stick is called a conducter and he is very important. He keeps time acting as a sort of metronome for everyone and he also indicates dynamics and such to different sections of the orchestra.

22 Related Question Answers Found:

Where does a French horn sitting arrangement in a orchestra?

Symphonic. In a symphony orchestra, the horn section is the group of symphonic musicians who play the French horn (or German horn or Vienna horn). These musicians are typically seated to the back of the ensemble and may be on either side at the director's discretion.

What instruments are not in the orchestra?

8 Instruments Rarely Used In OrchestraHarp – Although the harp is one of the most common instruments in the history of music, it is not always used in most classical compositions. ... Glass Armonica – ... Saxophone – ... Wagner Tuba – ... Alto Flute – ... Sarrusophone – ... Theremin – ... Organ –

Are there pianos in an orchestra?

Originally Answered: does orchestra include piano? In the modern symphony orchestra, yes. I play it in one, for example. The pianist(s) in a symphony orchestra is also called upon at times to play other keyboard instruments, most usually the high-pitched, tinkling celesta, and perhaps harpsichord as well.

What does the conductor of an orchestra do?

Most importantly a conductor serves as a messenger for the composer. It is their responsibility to understand the music and convey it through gesture so transparently that the musicians in the orchestra understand it perfectly. Those musicians can then transmit a unified vision of the music out to the audience.

What is the referred to the orchestra's bells?

Xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, tubular bell. The glockenspiel (German pronunciation: [ˈɡlɔkənˌʃpiːl] or [ˈɡlɔkŋ̍ˌʃpiːl], Glocken: bells and Spiel: Play) is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano.Other names: Concert bells, orchestral bells, c...Hornbostel–Sachs classification: 111.212; ...Classification: Keyboard percussion

What does an orchestra tune to?

Orchestras always tune to 'A', because every string instrument has an 'A' string. The standard pitch is A=440 Hertz (440 vibrations per second). Some orchestras favor a slightly higher pitch, like A=442 or higher, which some believe results in a brighter sound.

When did a British orchestra first have a female conductor?

In 1913, the first women were hired by a major orchestra. The Queen's Hall Orchestra in London, led by Sir Henry Wood, took on six female violinists in 1913. By 1918, the orchestra had 14 female musicians. However, there was still a stigma around women musicians – particularly around the instruments they played.

What instruments are in a romantic orchestra?

During the romantic period, the orchestra had become a great force due to its increasing size including the following:strings - larger string section. woodwind - flutes and piccolo, oboes and clarinets, bassoon and double bassoons. brass - trumpets, trombones and French horns (tuba added later in the period)More items...