Composition of the Classical Orchestra The classical orchestra is considerably smaller than the modern symphony orchestra: fewer strings, no more than two of the same instruments in woodwind and brass sections can be used, and the percussion section contains only a very few instruments.
The brass family members that are most commonly used in the orchestra include the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and the tuba.
The New York Philharmonic
String section
Drama that is sung to orchestra accompaniment, usually a large-scale composition involving soloist, chorus, orchestra, costumes, and scenery.
Chair violinistThe first chair violinist of an orchestra—known as the concertmaster—is a vital musical leader with widely ranging responsibilities, from tuning the orchestra to working closely with the conductor.
The Four Sections refers to the four sections of the orchestra: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.
Orchestra is a large circular or rectangular area at the center part of the theatre where the play, dance, religious rites, acting used to take place. It is located in front of the theatron and the parodos. The orchestra of the theater of Dionysus in Athens is approximately 66 feet in diameter.
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.
BBC Music Magazine's 20 greatest conductors of all time are:Carlos Kleiber (1930-2004) Austrian. Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) American. Claudio Abbado (b1933) Italian. Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989) Austrian. Nikolaus Harnoncourt (b1929) Austrian. Sir Simon Rattle (b 1955) British. Wilhelm Furtwängler (1896-1954)More items...
Four The modern symphony orchestra contains four main sections: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.
A symphony orchestra and a philharmonic are the same thing - sort of. They're the same size and they play the same kind of music. ... “Symphony orchestra” is a generic term, whereas “philharmonic orchestra” is always part of a proper name.
Beethoven's Orchestra
| Four- or Five-part Strings | Winds/Brass/Percussion |
|---|---|
| Violin 2 | Oboes 1 & 2 |
| Viola | Clarinets 1 & 2 |
| Cello* | Bassoons 1 & 2 |
| Double bass* | Horns 1 & 2 |
Each instrument has unique characteristics, such as the different ways they produce a sound, the materials used to create them, and their overall appearance. These characteristics ultimately divide instruments into four families: woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings.
Orchestra is a broad term for any ensemble featuring a hefty lineup of strings. Two basic orchestras exist—chamber orchestras (small!) and symphony orchestras (big!). Chamber orchestras employ about 50 or fewer musicians (who may all play strings).
You may be surprised that the saxophone is not here. This is the one instrument that is always found in bands and wind ensembles, but only very rarely plays in the orchestra. Although flutes may be made of wood, the orchestral flute is usually made of metal. It also does not have a reed.
A smaller-sized orchestra (forty to fifty musicians or fewer) is called a chamber orchestra. A full-size orchestra (eighty to one hundred musicians or more) may be called a symphony orchestra.
While harps sometimes double the bass instruments, the sound of the harp can overly merge with them if placed nearby. The harp (always resting on the right shoulder), when on stage left, leaves the harpist on the audience's side, isolated from the rest of the orchestra and blocked from the conductor by the instrument.