What was a classical orchestra like?

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Classical Orchestra (1750-1830) Classical orchestras used 30 to 60 players in four sections: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. ... Horns and trumpets brought power to loud passages and filled out with the harmony, though they do not usually play the main melody. Timpani were used for rhythmic bite and emphasis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does orchestrate mean in business?

According to Webster's Dictionary, "to orchestrate" means "to arrange, organize, or build up for special or maximum effect." What does it take to be the "conductor" in your business, the one who orchestrates many functions (e.g. sales, marketing, operations, finance) toward a common goal?

Which musical note is most commonly used for an orchestra to tune to?

At an orchestral concert, you'll hear an A from the oboe before you hear anything else because it's the note that the rest of the musicians tune to. Orchestras always tune to concert pitch (usually A=440 Hertz, 440 vibrations per second).

What is Orchestra in Greek Theatre?

Orchestra: The orchestra (literally, "dancing space") was normally circular. It was a level space where the chorus would dance, sing, and interact with the actors who were on the stage near the skene. ... The orchestra of the theater of Dionysus in Athens was about 60 feet in diameter.

Is orchestra or band better?

Orchestra is better because orchestra can play softer music while on the other hand, Band plays very loud. ... Band can play just as delicately, softly, and beautifully as an orchestra if the music calls for it. Secondly, band has different varieties: it has symphonic bands and marching bands.

Can an orchestra work without a conductor?

If you just pick up the right kind of students, they will become conductors.” Lintu acknowledges that most orchestras nowadays could play quite well together without the involvement of a conductor. ... Because most of the orchestras in the world can play together without any conductor.

What does the bass drum do in the orchestra?

In many forms of music, the bass drum is used to mark or keep time. The bass drum makes a low, boom sound when the mallet hits the drumhead. In marches, it is used to project tempo (marching bands historically march to the beat of the bass).

19 Related Question Answers Found:

What makes a pops orchestra?

A pops orchestra is an orchestra that plays popular music (generally traditional pop) and show tunes as well as well-known classical works. Pops orchestras are generally organised in large cities and are distinct from the more "highbrow" symphony or philharmonic orchestras which also may exist in the same city.

How many glockenspiels are in an orchestra?

The orchestral glockenspiel consists of a series of from twenty-seven to thirty-sevengraduated bars of steel, chromatically tuned, and mounted and played in similar manner to the xylophone.

When was the piano added to the orchestra?

From an article by Ralph Wood entitled The Piano as an Orchestral Instrument (which is dated 1934, so maybe there's more recent scholarship): So far as I know, the earliest composer to add the piano to his "battery" was, as might be expected, Berlioz. In Lélio [1832–ed.]

What was the first brass instrument in the orchestra?

Some of the earliest examples of brass instruments were straight trumpets made of wood, bronze, and silver, such as the salpinx found in Greece, and the Roman tuba, lituus, and buccina. Other early brass instruments were horns made of bronze or animal horns.

How many musicians are usually involved in a concert orchestra?

The actual number of musicians employed in a given performance may vary from seventy to over one hundred musicians, depending on the work being played and the size of the venue. A chamber orchestra (sometimes concert orchestra) is a smaller ensemble of not more than about fifty musicians.

How loud is a full orchestra?

The problem is, a symphony orchestra playing full out can easily reach 96 to 98 decibels, and certain brass and percussion instruments have registered 130 to 140 at close range.

How much does it cost to go to an orchestra?

Tickets on the floor range from $50–100 depending on where they are, and there were some general admission tickets on the second balcony (the furthest away/highest seats) for $15. It depends on several factors, including venue, type of performance, and seating location.

Can a flute be in an orchestra?

The flute used in an orchestra is usually made of silver metal, and with at least 13 tone holes controlled by valves. The flute family includes the C-flute and the piccolo as well as the more unusual alto flute and bass flute. But flutes have existed in all times and in all cultures and there are many, many variants.

Does Columbia have an orchestra?

The Columbia University Orchestra was founded by composer Edward MacDowell in 1896 and is the oldest continually operating university orchestra in the United States.