What is the role of the sax in the orchestra?

Answer:

Saxophones come in many shapes and sizes from tiny high pitched sopranino saxes to massive contrabass instruments which can be almost two metres tall. The saxophone is a wind instrument with a reed and the body is made of brass, and so it forms a bridge between the woodwind and brass sections of the orchestra.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the largest orchestra in the world?

Russia

What is the conductor's role in an orchestra?

Conductors act as guides to the orchestras or choirs they conduct. They choose the works to be performed and study their scores, to which they may make certain adjustments (such as in tempo, articulation, phrasing, repetitions of sections), work out their interpretation, and relay their vision to the performers.

What is 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 ...

What is the loudest orchestral instrument?

The trumpet is generally considered the loudest instrument in the modern orchestra.

Who was the first female conductor of a major American orchestra?

Maestra Alsop

Do orchestra conductors live longer?

A Simple Fitness Program that's Music to Your Years A study conducted by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company shows that orchestra conductors live 38 percent longer than the general population. The reason is simple--conducting is good cardiovascular exercise.

16 Related Question Answers Found:

How much does a professional musician in an orchestra earn?

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.

How many people are in a symphonic orchestra?

A symphony 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 does the piano fit into an orchestra?

With its many possibilities the piano is like an orchestra within the orchestra. Inside the shell the piano strings are strung on an iron frame that looks almost like a harp. When the musician presses a key, a small hammer strikes the string, creating the sound.

What does a gamelan orchestra consist of?

Gamelan, the term for a traditional musical ensemble in Indonesia, typically refers to a percussion orchestra composed predominantly of tunedgongs of various types and metal-keyed instruments. The ensemble is conducted by a drummer, and often includes voice, bamboo flute, xylophone, and stringed instruments.

What year was the bassoon first used in an orchestra?

1668
Its debut as an orchestral instrument was probably in 1668 in Antonio Cesti's opera Il pomo d'oro . Challenging techniques were being required of stringed instruments as early as the 17th century, and the strings were proving themselves more than capable of meeting them.

Is orchestra considered classical music?

In classical music, the term “orchestra”, refers specifically to a group of musicians involving strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion and (sometimes) choir. ... For example, a piano trio is an ensemble consisting of piano and two other instruments, usually a violin and a cello.

What is a standard orchestra size?

A symphony 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.

Are drums used in orchestra's?

Unlike most of the other players in the orchestra, a percussionist will usually play many different instruments in one piece of music. 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 string families in a orchestra?

Four strings
A total of forty-four are used in full orchestras. The string family is the largest family in the orchestra, accounting for over half of the total number of musicians on stage. The string instruments all have carved, hollow, wooden bodies with four strings running from top to bottom.

What was the first major orchestral work of Beethoven?

The First Symphony His first major orchestral work, the First Symphony, appeared in 1800, and his first set of string quartets was published in 1801. During this period, his hearing began to deteriorate, but he continued to conduct, premiering his Third and Fifth Symphonies in 1804 and 1808, respectively.

Are there wind instruments in an orchestra?

An orchestra's wind section can consist of various combinations of such instruments as the piccolo, oboe, flute, clarinet, cor anglais (literally French for 'English horn'), bass clarinet, E-flat clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon and saxophone. ...