What is it like to be a concertmaster of an orchestra?

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Answer:

The concertmaster sits to the conductor's left, closest to the audience, in what is called the "first chair," "first [music] stand" or outside of the US "first desk." The concertmaster makes decisions regarding bowing and other technical details of violin playing for the violins, and sometimes all of the string players ...

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the orchestra in a theater?

The main floor of the theater is called the Orchestra.

What instrument sits in the front of the orchestra?

And when a classical orchestra gathers on stage, the strings are at the front, followed by woodwinds, brass, and then percussion.

When was the violin first introduced to the orchestra?

The earliest violins were used for popular and dance music. During the 17th century it replaced the viol as the primary stringed instrument in chamber music. The Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi included violins in the orchestra of his opera Orfeo (first performed in 1607).

What are the instruments that occupy the front part of the orchestra?

Percussion occupies the whole back row, still with kettledrums in the middle, followed by horns, trombones and trumpets in the next row, then clarinets and bassoons, and in front (just behind the violas) flutes and oboes.

What is an instrument used to lead the orchestra?

Oboe

How many harps does an orchestra have?

There can be anywhere from one to six harps, depending on the repertoire. Most typically there are one or two harps, though the Philadelphia and Metropolitan Operas are the only North American orchestras with second-harp positions these days.

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What musical instrument is not normally used in 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.

How much does an orchestra leaderget paid?

Major orchestra salaries range by the orchestra from a little over $100,000 to a little over $150,000. Principals, the ranking member of each orchestra section, can make a great deal more, in some instances more than $400,000. And most major orchestras play for a season lasting only about nine- months a year.

Is the xylophone in the orchestra?

The percussion family is the largest in the orchestra. ... 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.

How many hours do Orchestra musicians work?

Orchestra members spend an average of 20 hours per week performing and rehearsing, time that is broken into approximately eight "services", a catchall term that encompasses both rehearsals and concerts. They tend to work in the morning or at night, including on weekends and often major holidays.

How many members are there in the philharmonic orchestra?

A symphony or philharmonic orchestra will usually have over eighty musicians on its roster, in some cases over a hundred, but the actual number of musicians employed in a particular performance may vary according to the work being played and the size of the venue.

How much does Trans-Siberian Orchestra make a year?

1-30, grossing $46.8 million and selling 706,000 tickets according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. The $66.8 million haul makes 2019 a record year for Trans-Siberian Orchestra, marking the biggest gross of its 20-year touring career.

Why isn't a piano in an orchestra?

The piano is important in a symphony orchestra for those pieces that include it. But it is not part of traditional orchestration and many composers never included a piano part in their symphonies and other orchestral works, so in that sense it's a less important orchestral instrument overall.

What instruments from the orchestra are played with a bow?

Strings. There are four stringed instruments commonly used in the modern orchestra: the violin, viola, cello, and bass. All are made of wood and have four strings. All are usually played by drawing a bow across the strings, but are also sometimes played by plucking the strings.

What is the National School Orchestra Award?

The National School Orchestra Award® is the counterpart to the Sousa Band Award® and the highest honor you can bestow upon a member of the high school orchestra to recognize excellence in playing and contributions to the ensemble.

What are the top symphony orchestras in the US?

Greatest Symphonies in the USSan Francisco Symphony Orchestra. The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra was established in 1911. ... New York Philharmonic. ... Boston Symphony Orchestra. ... Los Angeles Philharmonic. ... Cleveland Orchestra. ... Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

What is an orchestra leader called?

The concertmaster is the leader of the first violin section in an orchestra (or clarinet, oboe, flute in a concert band) and the instrument-playing leader of the orchestra. ... Another common term in the U. S. is "first chair." In the U. K., the term commonly used is "leader."

How many violins are there 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 ...

What is the makeup of a symphony orchestra?

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.

Are clarinets used in orchestras?

In an orchestra, the clarinet takes on both solo roles and the middle register of the woodwind part, while in music for wind instruments the clarinet assumes a leading role (along with the trumpet). Due to its warm timbre and all-action playing style, it is also used as a solo instrument in genres such as swing jazz.

Does an orchestra need a bassoon?

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).

What does Uh stand for in orchestra?

4.7/5 (211 Views . Whole Bow Initials are sometimes used in music to indicate what part of the bow should be used: WB = Whole Bow; LH = Lower Half; UH = Upper Half; MB = Middle of the Bow.

What is the role of the clarinet in an orchestra?

In an orchestra, the clarinet takes on both solo roles and the middle register of the woodwind part, while in music for wind instruments the clarinet assumes a leading role (along with the trumpet). Due to its warm timbre and all-action playing style, it is also used as a solo instrument in genres such as swing jazz.