After the Baroque, developed was the Classical orchestra (1750-1830). ... The modern present symphony orchestra varies in size, but typically has a strength of about 100 and comprises some 16 first and second violins, 14 violas, 14 cellos and 8 - 10 double basses.
The word stems from the Greek orchēstra, the circular part of the ancient Greek theatre in front of the proscenium in which the dancers and instrumentalists performed.
The Count Basie Orchestra
A symphony orchestra will usually have over eighty musicians on its roster, in some cases over a hundred, but the actual number of musicians employed in a particular performance may vary according to the work being played and the size of the venue.
Ruud Merx and Alina Lin Jong from Andre Rieu's Johann strauss Orchestra. come together for life. When Lin and Ruud, were married, their wedding was a large musical celebration. ... The following is a short interview I have with Ruud and Lin at their home.
Most orchestras have four timpani of different sizes and tuned to different pitches and they are usually played by one musician, who hits the drumheads with felt-tipped mallets or wooden sticks.
Composers tend to use harps in a variety of ways: to support harmonies by playing chords; to add definition to the start of notes, phrases or bass lines – by providing a little 'ping' as another instrument begins to play and to create swirls of sound through glissandos – sweeping the hands across the strings in swift, ...
It can be a chamber orchestra, which is a small orchestra of around 25 musicians, often playing strings and performing in, historically, palace chambers for royalty. A symphony orchestra is large, sometimes topping 100 members, and is organized to play symphonies (in concert halls).
Oboes have been used in orchestras for about 400 years and are among the most established instruments of the orchestra. The oboe is slightly lower in pitch than the flute and so occupies the alto register in the woodwind section.
Standard amplification Since the 1960s, music theatre companies have reinforced the sound of the orchestra by placing microphones on instruments and amplifying them through a public address system. While this results in a louder sound, it may not correctly reproduce the ensemble sound and instrument tone.
String orchestras can be of chamber orchestra size ranging from between 12 (4 first violins, 3 second violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos and 1 bass = 12) and 21 musicians (6 first violins, 5 second violins, 4 violas, 4 cellos and 2 double basses= 21) sometimes performing without a conductor.
At least 500 instruments are considered percussion instruments – and new ones appear all the time! Percussion instruments can be so much more than drums: they include triangles, bells, xylophones – but sometimes even a vacuum cleaner pipe or an entire set of wineglasses!
An orchestra is a large group of musicians which can include even 100 or more members. A band is a small group of musicians which generally includes a lesser number of members than orchestras. Orchestras use four main families of instruments – strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.
The Concert orchestra is a preparatory group that works on building a musical foundation through classical pieces that are arranged for younger musicians. The Symphony Orchestra is a more advancedgroup that focuses on performing original classical repertoire at a professional level.
Orchestras generally have as many string players as they can afford, space permitting. Big budget orchestras will have much larger string sections than orchestras with smaller budgets. Opera orchestras use a smaller string section due to space limitations in the pit.
From Elgar to Previn and Michael Tilson Thomas to Sir Simon Rattle, the LSO has been blessed with some illustrious Principal Conductors and Music Directors. In it's 116-year history, the Orchestra has been led under the baton of 16 great conductors.
Major orchestra salaries range by the orchestra from a little over $100,000 to a little over $150,000. Principals, the ranking member of each orchestra section, can make a great deal more, in some instances more than $400,000. And most major orchestras play for a season lasting only about nine- months a year.
The most important violinist in the orchestra. He or she will sit in the front seat directly to the left of the conductor. It is the duty of the concert master to tune the orchestra before a performance.