What is the concertmasters most important job for the orchestra?

Answer:

The first chair violinist of an orchestra—known as the concertmaster—is a vital musical leader with widely ranging responsibilities, from tuning the orchestra to working closely with the conductor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What leads the orchestra in tuning?

Oboe

Where do the string instruments sit in the orchestra?

The string sections are at the front of the orchestra, arrayed in a semicircle around the conductor's podium.

What's the difference between composer and orchestrator?

The answer, of course is: it varies. Most composers who have musical training behind them will generally write out a paper sketch indicating what instruments are playing, and so on. This is given to the orchestrator, who will then write out the individual parts for the ensemble playing the film score.

Are there more violins in an orchestra?

Violinists can't help but snap up the limelight in a symphony orchestra: they're sat right at the front, and there are a heck of a lot of them. ... A symphony orchestra is usually made up of (give or take) around ten first violins and ten second violins, ten violas, eight cellos and six double basses.

What is the difference between 1st and 2nd violins in an orchestra?

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.

18 Related Question Answers Found:

What is the most expensive instrument in the orchestra?

Expensive InstrumentsThe Vieuxtemps Guarneri Violin. Sold for $16 million. ... The Paganini Stradivarius Cello. Sold for >$6 million. ... The Heintzman Crystal Piano. Sold for $3.2 million. ... The Reach Out to Asia Fender Stratocaster. Sold for $2.7 million. ... Charlie Parker's Grafton Alto Saxophone. Sold for £93,500.

What do you call the leader of an orchestra?

Conductor: The leader of the orchestra, who provides the beat by moving his/her arms, usually with a baton in one hand, to keep all members of the orchestra together and ensure that players come in at the correct time.

What does orchestra leader do?

'The most obvious role of the Leader is liaising with the conductor in rehearsals to help the Orchestra interpret their ideas and make them sound as they imagine. This mainly affects the string section, but may also influence the rest of the Orchestra.

How many Contrabasses 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 ...

Do orchestras have tubas?

The three most common instruments in orchestras are the bass, the contrabass, and the euphonium. The tubas are of course the bass instrument of the brass section, but they are more than capable of playing melodies in the tenor register.

What orchestra means?

English Language Learners Definition of orchestra : a group of musicians who play usually classical music together and who are led by a conductor. US : a group of seats in a theater that are close to the stage.

What is the role of the trumpet in the orchestra?

Trumpet. ... There are 2 to 4 trumpets in an orchestra and they play both melody and harmony and also support the rhythm. You play the trumpet by holding it horizontally, buzzing your lips into the mouthpiece, and pressing down the three valves in various combinations to change pitch.

How many members are in the gamelan orchestra?

The tradition is strongest in Bali and Java–its name is from the Javanese word for hammer, gamel. It is played quite differently from Western music, with a 50-piece orchestra of mostly percussion instruments that are built and tuned as one unit.

What is the difference between orchestration and choreography?

The choreography describes the interactions between multiple services, where as orchestration represents control from one party's perspective. This means that a choreography differs from an orchestration with respect to where the logic that controls the interactions between the services involved should reside.

How many violins are in a full 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 ...

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.

Where does the oboist sit in the orchestra?

The CLARINET sits directly behind the flutes and is long and black. It is descended from an instrument called the chalumeau. The OBOE sits to the right of the flute, is black in color, and has a wider opening at the end called the bell.

What has happened to the Simon Bolivar Orchestra?

The network's highly praised Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra has lost 42 percent of its musicians over the past six months. ... El Sistema says 980,000 children and young musicians are currently part of its programs throughout Venezuela.

What is a full size orchestra?

At its most basic, an orchestra is a large instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. ... A full-size orchestra (eighty to one hundred musicians or more) may be called a symphony orchestra.