What does Second Chair mean in an orchestra?

Answer:

Second chair means that you're still very good at your instrument. You don't have the same leadership responsibility as first chair. Sure you might be called upon when they are sick once or twice a year. Instead, you have to follow first chair's lead, even if you don't fully agree.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do orchestras need a conductor?

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.”

What orchestra plays at the Kennedy Center?

The National Symphony Orchestra

Can a saxophone be in an orchestra?

The saxophone made great strides in being accepted in many types of music. Today, it is one of the most popular wind instruments and can be commonly heard in wind bands, jazz bands, and rock bands. Currently, the saxophone is the only wind instrument that is not a permanent member of the orchestra.

Did Beethoven enlarge the orchestra?

One of the aspects of Beethoven's influence on latergenerations is the topic of this research: the way that his Symphonies (indeed one of the major vehicles of his musical expression) expanded symphonic music and, as a consequence, changed the orchestra.

What is the violins role in the orchestra?

If the string section is the most defining of the orchestra, the violins are generally the most defining members of the string family (don't tell the cellists). The violins carry the melody, particularly the first violins. The second violins will often support the first violins' harmony by playing it in a lower pitch.

How long do orchestra rehearsals last?

Each one lasts two and a half hours, and factoring in the union break of ten minutes per hour, that gives 125 minutes of actual rehearsal time times 5 rehearsals, or 625 minutes of rehearsal for a program that lasts about 120 minutes (without breaks).

23 Related Question Answers Found:

Is a school band an orchestra?

In most middle school bands, strings (besides the string bass) are not used. If they are, the band is generally considered an orchestra.

What's another name for orchestra?

Orchestra Synonyms - WordHippo Thesaurus....What is another word for orchestra? bandensemble, philharmonic, symphony group, sinfonietta, symphony orchestra, octetquartet, combo.

Are cymbals in orchestra?

A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. ... Cymbals are used in many ensembles ranging from the orchestra, percussion ensembles, jazz bands, heavy metal bands, and marching groups.

Who are the best orchestra conductors?

Top Ten ConductorsSir Malcolm Sargent. 29 votes. (2.7%)Herbert von Karajan. 219 votes. (20.2%)Sir Georg Solti. 116 votes. (10.7%)Leonard Bernstein. 201 votes. (18.6%)André Previn. 64 votes. (5.9%)Sir Simon Rattle. 229 votes. (21.1%)Marin Alsop. 34 votes. (3.1%)Gustavo Dudamel. 58 votes. (5.4%)More items...

Which instrument is not part of the orchestra?

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.

Does the first viola tunes the orchestra?

The A string is normally tuned first, to the pitch of the ensemble:generally 400-442hz. The other strings are then tuned to it in intervals of fifths, usually by bowing two strings simultaneously. Most violas also have adjusters—fine tuners, particularly on the A string that make finer changes.

Should you do Orchestra in high school?

There are numerous activities in the field of music and arts that will improve your college application and orchestra is definitely one of them! One benefit of being involved in extracurricular activities is that they will help you stand out as an individual when college admissions committees look at your application.

What is music 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.

Why do orchestras warm up?

The 'warm-up' is actually the players making sure they are all tuned the same way. Each orchestra has a different way of doing it, but often it goes like this: ... To tune their other strings, the players will play two at once. This makes an interval of a perfect fifth, which you can easily hear if it is out of tune.

Are violins in the orchestra?

There are more violins in the orchestra than any other instrument (there can be up to 30!) and they are divided into two groups: first and second. First violins often play the melody, while second violins alternate between melody and harmony.

Are guitars in an orchestra?

Guitars are not included in orchestra due to many reasons. First one, the tradition. That's just the way it was, and it is today still. Second, guitars don't blend particularly well with the rest of the orchestra, due to sound characteristics.

How did Beethoven changed the orchestra?

3 (Eroica) in particular expanded our idea of what is possible in a symphony and, for that matter, in music. ... He continued to revolutionize, making the orchestra bigger (Beethoven's fifth is the first symphony to use trombones) and eventually even including voices in his titanic ninth.

When did the trombonist in Andre Rieu Orchestra die?

Ruud Merx, a trombonist who has performed with Andre Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra for over 20 years, died last week after suffering a heart attack during a British tour. He was just 47. Merx suffered the heart attack in his sleep at 5 a. m. on 17 December.

What is an orchestra made up of?

A Symphony Orchestra is defined as a large ensemble composed of wind, string, brass and percussion instruments and organized to perform classical music. Wind instruments include flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoons. String instruments include harp, violin, viola, cello, and double bass.