What makes a good orchestra conductor?

Answer:

Unlike the master chef, the great conductor must have not only manual skills and superb taste, but the essential gifts of acute hearing and the ability to communicate with musicians in verbal and non-verbal ways. ... He is involved in choosing new musicians who, in effect, become how the orchestra plays.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Andre Rieu start his orchestra?

André recruits his Johann Strauss Orchestra. A. R.:”At that time, we rehearsed for 6 months before getting started. There were just twelve musicians in the beginning. Today, there are 43, and sometimes even 50 on very large stages.

Who is the composer of orchestral composition?

It may be the same composition that Charles Labelle referred to in 1888 as a suite.) Only Lavallée and Joseph Vézina can be considered experienced 19th century writers of marches, waltzes and overtures 'for orchestra or band....Orchestral Composition. Published OnlineFebruary 7, 2006Last EditedJanuary 21, 2014

How big is a Broadway orchestra?

Such orchestras may vary in size from approximately 30 musicians (early Baroque and Classical opera) to as many as 90–100 musicians (Wagnerian opera).

Is the clarinet an orchestral instrument?

The A clarinet is an essential orchestral instrument, and many solo pieces and chamber-music works have been written for it as well. It is only seldom used in music for wind instruments. With its deep, somewhat somber sound and its gentle tonal quality, it is used in works such as Mozart concertos.

Who is the conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra?

Riccardo Muti

21 Related Question Answers Found:

What are the names of instruments in an 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.

What instruments does an orchestra have?

The typical symphony orchestra consists of four groups of related musical instruments called the woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings....Instruments may include:theremin. ondes Martenot. electric guitar. electric bass guitar. electric double bass. electric violin, viola & cello. Hammond organ. Lowrey organ.

Which orchestra was the largest in size?

A gathering of musicians in Frankfurt, Germany, broke the world record for largest orchestra. After a few visits to your local symphony orchestra (or philharmonic — they're all pretty much the same anyway), you may start to notice that the size may fluctuate between pieces.

When did Electric Light Orchestra come out?

Electric Light Orchestra, also known as ELO Jeff Lynne's ELO Origin Birmingham, England Genres Progressive pop art rock progressive rock pop rock. Years active: 1970–1983, 1984–1986, 2000–2001, 2014–present.

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.

How big is a chamber orchestra?

In context, a chamber orchestra refers to an orchestra (a group of musicians) who play in rooms rather than full-sized concert halls. The acoustic limitations mean that chamber orchestras are smaller (up to 50 musicians) as opposed to a full orchestra (around 100).

Where does the first chair sit in an orchestra?

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 ...

What happened to the orchestra during the Romantic period?

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 is a theme in orchestra?

The theme is first stated by the full orchestra, then restated by different sections of the orchestra (in order, woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion) before being stated again by the full orchestra. In so doing, Britten makes clear the different timbres of the different sections of the orchestra.

Is the saxophone part of the orchestra?

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. ... These distinctions have largely broken down today and most good sax players will be capable of playing in a variety of styles.

In what era is the orchestra the biggest?

The typical orchestra grew in size throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, reaching a peak with the large orchestras (of as many as 120 players) called for in the works of Richard Wagner, and later, Gustav Mahler.

What are orchestral colors?

Timbre is commonly referred to as orchestral or vocal colour. The formalists just mentioned characterize musical works as pure (that is, colourless) patterns of notes or sound sequences.

Is bass guitar part of orchestra?

The bass is a standard member of the orchestra's string section, as well as the concert band, and is featured in concertos, solo, and chamber music in Western classical music....Double bass. String instrumentDeveloped15th–19th centuryPlaying rangeRelated instruments.

Where is the piano placed in 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 trumpets are used in orchestras?

The C trumpet is most common in American orchestral playing, where it is used alongside the B♭ trumpet. Orchestral trumpet players are adept at transposing music at sight, frequently playing music written for the A, B♭, D, E♭, E, or F trumpet on the C trumpet or B♭ trumpet.