What is a second violin in an orchestra?

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Answer:

The simplest answer is to say that usually the second violins play a supportive role harmonically and rhythmically to the first violins which often play the melody and the highest line of the string section. ... If truth be known, a lot of what is required of the second violins is difficult even at times treacherous!

Frequently Asked Questions

How would you describe an orchestra performance?

Here are some adjectives for orchestra: unintentional but strangely harmonious, indistinct but unmistakable, whole world-renowned, stringed three-piece, hard-working but silent, huge mute, same phantom, strangely harmonious, real three-piece, excellent and painstaking, excellent and sizable, charming celestial, ...

What is an orchestra and a band called?

The concert band is an ensemble that goes by many names: wind ensemble, wind symphony, wind band, wind orchestra, symphonic band — or just plain "band." It's a collection of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments that is best known to the general public for patriotic marches, but it also is an ensemble that more ...

How do you prepare for an orchestra rehearsal?

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.

What reed instruments are in a symphony orchestra?

The Woodwind FamilyFlute. Oboe. Clarinet. Bassoon.

What is considered as the star of the orchestra?

There's no doubt that the soprano is "the star" of the orchestra. And, while every instrument has its place (and its share of concertos), the violin leads them all by a long-shot in terms of the amount of notes played per year! ... First violins play melody, while second violin parts alternate between melody and harmony.

Which string instrument has the least players in an orchestra?

The double bass (four strings, played standing or nearly standing) is the lowest instrument commonly found in a string orchestra.

Is orchestral an adjective?

Of, relating to, or resembling an orchestra. composed for or performed by an orchestra: orchestral works.

21 Related Question Answers Found:

How does the orchestra generate most of their money?

The majority of orchestras' earned income is generated by performance and other related activities. ... There is some variation within this overall figure: both the largest and the smallest budget orchestras produced a higher percentage of earned income than that characterizing the mid-sized orchestras.

Why should I join an orchestra?

Playing an instrument can help maintain or even increase coordination including fine motor skills. ... Keep Your Mind Active: In addition to helping with coordination, playing music with an orchestra can help keep your mind active. Not only are you perhaps learning new things, you are literally giving your brain a workout.

What does a composer do when orchestrating a piece of music?

Answer Expert Verified. For different instruments the composer will assign different musical lines consisting of notes. ... The composer may also take already composed music and assign different lines of music to different instruments, thereby putting his own ideas and thoughts into the piece.

What famous pieces have the London Symphony Orchestra played?

During the 1920s the orchestra played scores arranged and conducted by Eugene Goossens to accompany screenings of The Three Musketeers (1922), The Nibelungs (1924), The Constant Nymph (1927) and The Life of Beethoven (1929). Since 1935 the LSO has recorded the musical scores of more than 200 films.

What instruments are there in an orchestra?

Instruments of the OrchestraStrings. Learn about the string instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, and harp! ... Woodwinds. Learn about the woodwind instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon! ... Brass. Learn about the brass instruments: trumpet, french horn, trombone, and tuba! ... Percussion.

Why is the orchestra laid out the way it is?

“The board was outraged, arguing that the winds 'weren't busy enough to put on a good show. ' “But in the 1920s he made one change that stuck: he arranged the strings from high to low, left to right, arguing that placing all the violins together helped the musicians to hear one another better.

How much are professional orchestra instruments?

I mean, most professional orchestra instruments are above $10,000, but even the smaller and cheaper harps cost at least $1,500. Bigger and better quality harps can go up to $150,000. Yea… not many students would be able to afford this.

Is Harp a standard orchestral instrument?

The Harp is a celestial addition Finally, while not an orchestral regular, there is the harp. Shaped like a number-7, the harp has 47-strings that are tuned to the white keys on a piano. Pedals at the foot of the harp allow players to shift the length of the strings, to play the "black key" notes.

How many violins are in an orchestra?

They are not the biggest, but the most. Many times there are 30 violins playing together in the symphony orchestra. The violin often plays the melodies, but also rhythms and sounds. The instrument has four strings and the musician uses a bow to create the sound.

Why is saxophone not in the orchestra?

It was rapidly assimilated into military bands and by the turn of the century could be found in vaudeville acts and other similar genres as a novelty instrument. All of these factors combined suggest why the saxophone never became part of the orchestra.

Is the flute in band or orchestra?

Band instruments typically include: Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet or Cornet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba and Percussion. Orchestra instruments typically include: Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass.

What instruments were in the Romantic orchestra?

During the romantic period, the orchestra had become a great force due to its increasing size including the following: woodwind - flutes and piccolo, oboes and clarinets, bassoon and double bassoons. brass - trumpets, trombones and French horns (tuba added later in the period)

What period did the orchestra started to perform?

The word derives from the ancient Greek part of a stage where instruments and the chorus combined music and drama to create theater. The first semblance of a modern orchestra came in the early 17th century when the Italian opera composer Claudio Monteverdi formally assigned specific instruments to perform his music.