Answer:
The strings are the largest family of instruments in the orchestra and they come in four sizes: the violin, which is the smallest, viola, cello, and the biggest, the double bass, sometimes called the contrabass.
The strings are the largest family of instruments in the orchestra and they come in four sizes: the violin, which is the smallest, viola, cello, and the biggest, the double bass, sometimes called the contrabass.
Because most of the orchestras in the world can play together without any conductor. You are there to help them play better musically, and help them make a sound that is more coherent, that makes more sense from the composer's point of view.”
The goal with an orchestra is to balance the volume of the different sections to create the ideal sound. More violins creates a more lush sound, and a better balance with the winds, brass and percussion.
Now when the same form is used in a piece for three instruments, it's called a trio; and for four instruments, it's called a quartet; for five, a quintet, and so on. But when this form is used in a piece for a full orchestra, it's called a symphony. Simple. A symphony is merely a sonata for orchestra.
Cellos and Tubas and Snare Drums, Oh My!
Instruments of the OrchestraString family. Violin. Viola [vee-OH-lah] Cello (violoncello) [CHEL-low] ... Woodwind family. Flute, Piccolo. Oboe, English horn. Clarinet, Bass clarinet. ... Brass family. Trumpet. Horn (French horn) Trombone. ... Keyboards and Harp. Celesta [cheh-LESS-tah] Piano. Harpsichord.
Conductors need, at the minimum, a bachelor's degree in arts (BA), although many professional positions require a master's (MA). Fortunately, there are a variety of music majors and minors to choose from, including conducting, in a number of universities.
Violins
A symphony is a large-scale orchestral work intended to be played in the concert hall. It is usually in four movements. The standard Classical form is: 1st movement - allegro (fast) in sonata form.
1) Come having thoroughly practiced your music. Nothing is more frustrating to conductors than to waste time rehearsing passages that the orchestra members didn't practice ahead of time. 2) Before you head to rehearsal, double check that you have your music, instrument, bow, rosin, reeds, and any necessary accessories.
Unlike the master chef, the great conductor must have not only manual skills and superb taste, but the essential gifts of acute hearing and the ability to communicate with musicians in verbal and non-verbal ways. ... He is involved in choosing new musicians who, in effect, become how the orchestra plays.
The most common percussion instruments in the orchestra include the timpani, xylophone, cymbals, triangle, snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, maracas, gongs, chimes, celesta, and piano.
French Horn There are anywhere from 2 to 8 French horns in an orchestra, and they play both melody and harmony as well as rhythm. To play the French horn, hold it with the bell curving downward and buzz into the mouthpiece.
Percussion is, by its very nature, L O U D if you are close to it. Putting it at the back of an orchestra does two things. It allows a bit of space which mellows the sound, and second puts a lot of soft sound absorbers (other members of the orchestra) between the player and the audience.
Conductor, in music, a person who conducts an orchestra, chorus, opera company, ballet, or other musical group in the performance and interpretation of ensemble works.
The typical orchestra is divided into four groups of instruments: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The typical Western marching band, school band, or wind ensemble (woodwinds and brass together are winds) leaves out the strings, but otherwise uses most of the same instruments as the orchestra.
The BSO will open the 2021-2022 season on Sept. 30 — after an 18-month live-audience performance hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic — with Music Director Andris Nelsons sharing the podium with Boston Pops Conductor Laureate John Williams for a program featuring soloist Anne-Sophie Mutter.
The bright, rather penetrating sound of the oboe was easy to hear, and its pitch was more stable than gut strings, so it was natural to rely on it for tuning (One can also imagine it settling, or preventing arguments. ... But oboes were almost always present, so they became the standard instrument for tuning.
Orchestras play a wide range of repertoire, including symphonies, opera and ballet overtures, concertos for solo instruments, and as pit ensembles for operas, ballets, and some types of musical theatre (e.g., Gilbert and Sullivan operettas).
The Basses Double bass. Names that position these, the largest instrument in the orchestra's string section, relative to the cello. For so long, and in so many works, the role of the bass has been to double the cello part. As a transposing instrument, the bass plays the cello line an octave lower.
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.