What is the most important family in the orchestra?

Answer:

The strings are the largest family of instruments in the orchestra and they come in four sizes: the violin, which is the smallest, viola, cello, and the biggest, the double bass, sometimes called the contrabass.

Frequently Asked Questions

How important is the gamelan orchestra to Indonesian musicians?

Similarly, Gamelan is also very important. Not only does it help depict stories with music, but it also used for prayer and to entertain people. Therefore, understanding gamelan is paramount as it embodies culture and identity of each area.

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.

Are orchestras miked?

Perhaps the primary challenge Colby faces is miking the orchestra. Approaches for miking symphony orchestras run the gamut from a well-placed stereo pickup to placing a mic on every instrument. Colby's method incorporates a multimiking scheme with a planned measure of controlled bleed between sections.

What is an orchestral introduction called?

Overture, musical composition, usually the orchestral introduction to a musical work (often dramatic), but also an independent instrumental work. Early operas opened with a sung prologue or a short instrumental flourish, such as the trumpet “Toccata” that opens Claudio Monteverdi's Orfeo (1607).

How does orchestra pit work?

Inside the pit, the conductor stands facing towards the stage with his or her back towards the audience to coordinate the music with the vocals and actions of the singers, dancers and actors, while the orchestra sits facing the conductor.

Why have we never seen a saxophone before in orchestral music?

Being relatively easy for beginner musicians, the saxophone is popular for both learning and listening. However, we rarely see it in orchestra concerts. Why? Many believe that the saxophone's timbre is hard to blend, out-of-tune, and simply too loud.

What is the purpose of 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.

16 Related Question Answers Found:

Is orchestra a school subject?

No. For clarification- math, science, social studies, english and sometimes foreign languages are the academic classes the colleges are talking about.

How good is the Cleveland Orchestra?

In October 2020 The New York Times called it "America's finest [orchestra], still", and in 2012 Gramophone Magazine ranked the Cleveland Orchestra number 7 on its list of the world's greatest orchestras.

Where do orchestras play?

An orchestra pit is the area in a theater (usually located in a lowered area in front of the stage) in which musicians perform. Orchestral pits are utilized in forms of theatre that require music (such as opera and ballet) or in cases when incidental music is required.

How do orchestras stay in time?

Different kinds of music require different types of tempo control—rock and pop music follows the percussionist—generally the drummer. Orchestras rely on a maestro with a baton to maintain a steady pace.

How many horns are there in a romantic period orchestra?

Many important developments took place during this time. The orchestra became standardized. The Classical orchestra came to consist of strings (first and second violins, violas, violoncellos, and double basses), two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two or four horns, two trumpets, and two timpani.

Why are there no guitars in an orchestra?

That's because guitars have strong attack. The sound of the guitar section would be too sharp to blend it with the other sections. That's why you can only see a solo guitar playing in some orchestral pieces. Guitar is not a loud instrument.

What instruments were the basis of the Baroque Orchestra?

Baroque orchestra instruments usually included:strings - violins, violas, cellos and double basses. woodwind - recorders or wooden flutes, oboes and bassoon. brass - sometimes trumpets and/or horns (without valves)timpani (kettledrums)continuo - harpsichord or organ.

What instruments are in a full orchestra?

Instruments of the OrchestraString family. Violin. Viola [vee-OH-lah] Cello (violoncello) [CHEL-low] ... Woodwind family. Flute, Piccolo. Oboe, English horn. Clarinet, Bass clarinet. ... Brass family. Trumpet. Horn (French horn) Trombone. ... Keyboards and Harp. Celesta [cheh-LESS-tah] Piano. Harpsichord.

Who leads a baroque orchestra?

It is usually directed by a conductor. A Baroque orchestra was sometimes directed from the harpsichord. The continuo (or basso continuo) part was usually played on the harpsichord or organ. The instruments were used in the harmonies and for holding the ensemble together.

Who commissioned Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra?

The notes are the bricks and the mortar of the house.” Shortly after World War II, Britten was commissioned by the British Ministry of Education to compose the music for a documentary film called “Instruments of the Orchestra.”

How many clarinets 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 ...

What role does the triangle play in an orchestra?

Triangle, percussion instrument consisting of a steel rod bent into a triangle with one corner left open. A single stroke on the triangle clearly penetrates the full force of an orchestra, and it is perhaps most effective when used sparingly. ...

Where does the French horn sit in the orchestra?

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.