Creoles also ormed musical and symphonic societies. ... The Lyre Club Symphony Orchestra was one example of this musical stewardship, collaboration, cooperation and civil-rights advocacy. In New Orleans' musical community, professional and amateur musicians often played together.
Yet another reason why a string section is often considered as the backbone of the orchestra, is because of their numbers. The string section may have 12 first violins, 12 2nd violin, 10 violas, 10 cellos, 5 double basses. ... Thus they have to gang up in large numbers.
There are several types of amateur orchestras, including school orchestras, youth orchestras and community orchestras. Orchestras are usually led by a conductor who directs the performance by way of visible gestures. The conductor unifies the orchestra, sets the tempo and shapes the sound of the ensemble.
Three distinct types of orchestra--symphony, chamber and string--expose audiences around the world to new cultural and musical experiences each year.
An orchestra is a group of musicians playing instruments together. They make music. A large orchestra is sometimes called a "symphony orchestra" and a small orchestra is called a "chamber orchestra". A symphony orchestra may have about 100 players, while a chamber orchestra may have 30 or 40 players.
By the end of the 17th century groups of stringed instruments were being employed by leading composers and the violin family (or string section) assumed its position as the heart of the orchestra.
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.
Orchestra seats are located in the lowest level of the theater, the same level as the stage, though, of course, the stage is raised so that it is accessible for everybody to see.
Conductor Keith Lockhart
Conductor, in music, a person who conducts an orchestra, chorus, opera company, ballet, or other musical group in the performance and interpretation of ensemble works.
A large group of musicians who play together on various instruments, usually including some from strings, woodwind, brass and/or percussion; the instruments played by such a group. A semicircular space in front of the stage used by the chorus in Ancient Greek and Hellenistic theatres.
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.
The harp is the only plucked-string instrument to be a regular member of the orchestra. Guitars and mandolins occasionally appear, especially in operas. There can be anywhere from one to six harps, depending on the repertoire.
Its long history dates back to the Shang dynasty (1766-1122 BC), when a set of 3 bronze bells was common, though the earlier earthenware type of the late Stone Age was unearthed in Shaanxi province. From the 5th to the 3rd century BC the number of bells increased, mostly from 9 to 13.
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.
So why do today's orchestras tune to the oboe? The penetrating sound of the oboe stands out from the orchestra, so it's easy for all the musicians to hear. Its pitch is also steadier than strings, so it's a more reliable tuning source. ... So they became the standard instrument for tuning.