What are the main sections in a symphonic orchestra?

Answer:

The typical symphony orchestra consists of four groups of related musical instruments called the woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a double orchestra?

The term can also refer to the use of a double orchestral body where a work is in concerto grosso form; for example, Martinů's Double Concerto for Two String Orchestras, Piano, and Timpani is commonly known by the title "Double Concerto," where the word "double" refers to the two string bodies rather than to the piano ...

What are the four major choirs or families found in the orchestra?

The typical symphony orchestra consists of four groups of related musical instruments called the woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings.

What is a one movement orchestral composition based on some extent on a literary or pictorial idea?

CardsTerm Define or describe the term Romanticism as it applies to the arts and more specifically to musicDefinition Music started to focus less on form and structure and more on emotions and feelingsTerm One movement orchestral composition based to some extent on a literary or pictorial ideaDefinition Symphonic poem3.

What is the highest string instrument in the orchestra?

Violin

Where is the BBC Concert Orchestra based?

London

Why do you think Benjamin Britten used the form Theme and Variations for Young Person's Guide to the orchestra?

Benjamin Britten's The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra was originally an educational piece meant to teach children about all of the different instruments in the orchestra. ... Any accompaniment in the variations serves to showcase that particular instrument and introduce chords that propel the piece forward.

19 Related Question Answers Found:

What are the 4 main families of instruments in the orchestra?

To start, we can break the instruments into four families. Each family is grouped by the way the instrument produces vibration. This kind of classification gives us the string family, the woodwind family, the brass family and the percussion family.

Was the Baroque orchestra smaller than the modern orchestra?

In Baroque music, strings were the most important part. Baroque orchestras had from 10 to 30 players, primarily strings. ... The 'Baroque orchestra' ranged from smaller orchestras or ensembles with one player per part, through to larger scale orchestras with many players per part.

Is it hard to conduct an orchestra?

Technically speaking, it's not hard to conduct. The technique for a basic four-four pattern can be taught in maybe 15 minutes. After that's it's whatever nuance you want to add to your motions to express nonverbally what you want the group to do.

Why does orchestra tune to oboe?

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.

What does the word orchestrated?

1a : to compose or arrange (music) for an orchestra The composer orchestrated the music for the symphony orchestra. b : to provide with orchestration orchestrate a ballet. 2 : to arrange or combine so as to achieve a desired or maximum effect orchestrated preparations for the banquet a carefully orchestrated stunt.

How many pieces 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 ...

How many sections are there in a orchestra?

Orchestras are made up of four main sections: strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. Of these four, the string family is typically the largest section, often comprising half the orchestra performers.

Where is the violin in an orchestra?

Range. The violin is the highest pitched instrument in the string section. It has a resonant lower register and can also reach extremely high notes. As with many orchestral instruments there is no definite top note – it all depends on the skill of the player.