How many families of instruments are in the Western symphony orchestra?

Answer:

Four families

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the piano part of the orchestra?

The piano is an entire orchestra in itself – but sometimes its sound is a part of the big symphony orchestra.

How many sections are in a full orchestra?

A modern orchestra consists of four sections or families of instruments. The string section is the most important part of a symphony orchestra.

Is piano used in orchestra?

The piano is an entire orchestra in itself – but sometimes its sound is a part of the big symphony orchestra. ... When the musician presses a key, a small hammer strikes the string, creating the sound. This video is part of a series of playful videos on how the instruments used in a symphony orchestra function and sound.

Where does the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra based?

London

When did the orchestra begin?

The first semblance of a modern orchestra came in the early 17th century when the Italian opera composer Claudio Monteverdi formally assigned specific instruments to perform his music.

Did baroque orchestras have a conductor?

How about a conductor? Baroque orchestras generally did not have a conductor. Instead, the first violinist or the harpsichordist would often keep time and indicate when the orchestra should start or stop playing. Actually, this person was commonly the composer of the music as well.

15 Related Question Answers Found:

Where is a saxophone in an orchestra?

The saxophone is a wind instrument with a reed and the body is made of brass, and so it forms a bridge between the woodwind and brass sections of the orchestra. It has a single reed and a conical bore.

What is special about Simon Bolivar Orchestra?

Named after the Venezuelan national hero Simón Bolívar, it is the apex of the nation's system of youth orchestras, although by 2011, it was no longer officially a youth orchestra because the average age of the players had risen too high. ... Gustavo Dudamel has been the orchestra's artistic director since 1999.

Do orchestras play chords?

You can play wonderful sustained chords with the whole orchestra. You can play the low strings, the mid strings, the high strings or all together on four different sections of your master keyboard. ... Playing with low velocity triggers the major chord, playing with high velocity triggers the minor chord.

How many bass players are in an orchestra?

A modern full-scale symphony orchestra consists of approximately one hundred permanent musicians, most often distributed as follows: 16–18 1st violins, 16 2nd violins, 12 violas, 12 cellos, 8 double basses, 4 flutes (one with piccolo as a specialty), 4 oboes (one with English horn as a specialty), 4 clarinets (one with ...

What is the best orchestra in the US?

An Inside Look at Five of America's Best OrchestrasChicago Symphony Orchestra. Ranked at number five on the list, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is the highest ranked American orchestra on the list. ... Cleveland Orchestra. ... Los Angeles Philharmonic. ... Boston Symphony Orchestra. ... New York Philharmonic.

What is a true classical orchestra?

An orchestra (/ˈɔːrkɪstrə/; Italian: [orˈkɛstra]) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families, including. bowed string instruments such as the violin, viola, cello, and double bass. woodwinds such as the flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon.