What makes a great 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

What does Detache mean in orchestra?

Detaché is a playing technique on violin and other string instruments that calls for broad but separate bow strokes. In printed sheet music, the notes simply are not slurred.

Who founded London Symphony orchestra?

Sir Thomas Beecham

What is the deepest instrument in the orchestra?

Bassoon

Is the largest lowest sounding orchestral brass instrument?

The tuba is the largest, lowest-sounding orchestral brass instrument.

How is an orchestra seated?

Orchestra Chairs The most skilled musician sits in the first chair of each section and plays any solo parts for that instrument. The next most skilled player would sit in the second chair and the least skilled musician would sit in the last chair of his or her section.

21 Related Question Answers Found:

Is orchestral music dead?

Of course classical music is not dying – it's being performed and recorded everywhere. Of course classical music is dying – even the Met can't sell tickets.

Why is the orchestra conductor so important?

Most importantly a conductor serves as a messenger for the composer. It is their responsibility to understand the music and convey it through gesture so transparently that the musicians in the orchestra understand it perfectly. Those musicians can then transmit a unified vision of the music out to the audience.

How many string players are in a modern orchestra?

String orchestras can be of chamber orchestra size ranging from between 12 (4 first violins, 3 second violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos and 1 bass = 12) and 21 musicians (6 first violins, 5 second violins, 4 violas, 4 cellos and 2 double basses= 21) sometimes performing without a conductor.

Are any of André Rieu Orchestra married to each other?

Ruud Merx and Alina Lin Jong from Andre Rieu's Johann strauss Orchestra. come together for life. When Lin and Ruud, were married, their wedding was a large musical celebration. ... The following is a short interview I have with Ruud and Lin at their home.

Who came up with the idea of an orchestra?

The word derives from the ancient Greek part of a stage where instruments and the chorus combined music and drama to create theater. The first semblance of a modern orchestra came in the early 17th century when the Italian opera composer Claudio Monteverdi formally assigned specific instruments to perform his music.

What part of the orchestra is the clarinet in?

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.

What are the 5 orchestral string instruments?

Orchestras Typically Boast Five Different Types of String InstrumentsViolins are the sopranos. There's no doubt that the soprano is "the star" of the orchestra. ... Violas are the altos. ... Cellos form the tenor section. ... The Double Bass lives up to its name. ... The Harp is a celestial addition.

How many musicians are in Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra?

The orchestra is comprised of over 200 young musicians between the ages of 17 to 30, and is the flagship of the orchestral academic programme of the State Foundation for the Venezuelan System of Youth and Child Orchestras (or FESNOJIV).

How many percussion instruments are in the orchestra?

At least 500 instruments are considered percussion instruments – and new ones appear all the time! Percussion instruments can be so much more than drums: they include triangles, bells, xylophones – but sometimes even a vacuum cleaner pipe or an entire set of wineglasses!

Is it hard to be an orchestra conductor?

But “conducting is more difficult than playing a single instrument,” claims Boulez. “You have to know the culture, to know the score, and to project what you want to hear.” A great conductor might have peerless musical instincts and intuition, but innate musicality will get them only so far.

How much is a string orchestra?

String orchestras can be of chamber orchestra size ranging from between 12 (4 first violins, 3 second violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos and 1 bass = 12) and 21 musicians (6 first violins, 5 second violins, 4 violas, 4 cellos and 2 double basses= 21) sometimes performing without a conductor.

Did Chick Corea play with Mahavishnu Orchestra?

Starting in 1985 he recorded three solo albums for Private Music and went on tour with his own band, as well as with Shadowfax and the Dixie Dregs. Rick Laird played with Stan Getz and Chick Corea as well as releasing one solo LP, Soft Focus, but retired from the music business in 1982.

Are there pianos in a symphony orchestra?

Originally Answered: does orchestra include piano? In the modern symphony orchestra, yes. I play it in one, for example. The pianist(s) in a symphony orchestra is also called upon at times to play other keyboard instruments, most usually the high-pitched, tinkling celesta, and perhaps harpsichord as well.

Do orchestras have pianos?

Normally,an orchestra does not include a piano but there are some special cases. The thing with the piano is that it is hard for the pianist to have the same rhythm as others. Pianists have a certain rhythm.