Big band leader James Last has died in Florida, aged 86. The German-born musician's manager said he died at his home "peacefully and in the presence of his family". Last sold millions of records with his trademark "happy music" - upbeat versions of pop and classical favourites performed by his orchestra.
A radio orchestra (or broadcast orchestra) is an orchestra employed by a radio network (and sometimes television networks) in order to provide programming as well as sometimes perform incidental or theme music for various shows on the network.
The piano is an entire orchestra in itself – but sometimes its sound is a part of the big symphony orchestra.
The path to obtaining a job in an orchestra is somewhat straightforward. First, you nearly always have to attend a great music school, at least at the Master's degree level. It is true that some undergraduates can go straight into an orchestral position, but it is rare.
The primary responsibilities of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble, and to control the interpretation and pacing of the music. ... Typically, orchestral conductors use a baton more often than choral conductors.
Baroque Orchestra (1600-1760) The woodwind and brass were used as melodic instruments but later they were mainly used to sustain the harmony.
All violinists in an orchestra have very high skill levels and the only difference between the two sections is the role they play in the orchestra. ... Often the second violins have to come out of the musical texture and play the melody themselves or play in unison with the first violins.
The China National Traditional Orchestra (CNTO) (Chinese: 中国 中央 民族 乐团 or 中央 民族 乐团; also called China National Orchestra) is a 110-piece orchestra of traditional Chinese musical instruments with an accompanying folk choir.
1973
The tradition of orchestra musicians wearing formal clothes started centuries ago, when they performed as servants in royal houses. Today, it's more about dressing similarly, so that their clothes don't distract from the music.
The modern bassoon plays an important role in the orchestra due to its versatility and wide range. The bassoon plays the role of tenor and bass in the orchestral double reed section (the oboe and English horn play soprano and alto, respectively).
When we think of the 'traditional' layout of an orchestra, we think of the violins directly to the left of the conductor and the violas in the centre, with the woodwind and then the percussion behind them. ... In fact, the second violins used to be seated opposite the first violins, where the cellos normally are.
Most films can be orchestrated in one to two weeks with a team of five orchestrators. New orchestrators trying to obtain work will often approach a film composer asking to be hired. They are generally referred to the lead orchestrator for consideration.
Symphonic. In a symphony orchestra, the horn section is the group of symphonic musicians who play the French horn (or German horn or Vienna horn). These musicians are typically seated to the back of the ensemble and may be on either side at the director's discretion.
Podium
The strings are the biggest section, although there are only five kinds of instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, and harp.
The section principal in an orchestra, as well as any large musical ensemble, is the lead player for each respective section of instruments. ... The principal for each section is normally the most skilled and valuable player, selected through an audition process.
Noun. noun. /ˈɔrkəstrə/ 1[countable] a large group of people who play various musical instruments together, led by a conductor She plays the flute in the school orchestra.
English Language Learners Definition of pizzicato —used as a direction in music to indicate that notes should be played by plucking the strings of a violin, viola, cello, etc., with the fingers instead of by using a bow.
Conductors communicate with their musicians primarily through hand gestures, usually with the aid of a baton, and may use othergestures or signals such as eye contact. ... However, in rehearsals, frequent interruptions allow the conductor to give verbal directions as to how the music should be played or sung.
1904
A symphonic poem or tone poem is a piece of orchestral music, usually in a single continuous movement, which illustrates or evokes the content of a poem, short story, novel, painting, landscape, or other (non-musical) source.
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