Playing in an orchestra is typically harder than a band. Orchestral music is more complex and the fewer wind and percussion players are more exposed than in a band. Although marching bands may seem physically harder, playing demanding orchestra music is also physically and mentally taxing.
The word stems from the Greek orchēstra, the circular part of the ancient Greek theatre in front of the proscenium in which the dancers and instrumentalists performed.
English horn, French cor anglais, German Englischhorn, orchestral woodwind instrument, a large oboe pitched a fifth below the ordinary oboe, with a bulbous bell and, at the top end, a bent metal crook on which the double reed is placed.
Ludwig van Beethoven
The most common question asked by parents and students alike is the difference between “Band” and “Orchestra.” Both are “performance-based large group music classes,” but there are differences. Band classes are made up of “Wind” and “Percussion” instruments whereas Orchestra classes are made up of “String” instruments.
The Vienna Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra. “Philharmonic,” a word we started using in English in 1813, roughly means “loving harmony.” It, too, is commonly used to describe large, multi-instrument ensembles.
550 concerts and 5,000 members later, young players today can apply from as young as 13 and up to 18 (NYO is strictly an “orchestra of teenagers”) can apply to be in the orchestra, as long as you meet the Grade 8 distinction level entry requirement and pass your audition.
The strings are the biggest section, although there are only five kinds of instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, and harp.
The three main styles of gamelan are Balinese, Javanese and Sudanese, with many regions adopting a mixture of the three.
Orchestras and Chamber Ensembles Performs a broad repertory of orchestral works from Beethoven to the present. Visit the Orchestra website for more information.
Classical Orchestra (1750-1830) Classical orchestras used 30 to 60 players in four sections: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Classical composers exploited the individual tone colours of instruments and they do not treat instruments interchangeably.
The trumpet is generally considered the loudest instrument in the modern orchestra.
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.
The membership of the three different kinds of orchestras are the same: strings, winds, percussion. On any given night, however, depending on the demands of the music, even a symphony orchestra might appear in a smaller form.
The flute is a great instrument for beginners and is one of the most popular, especially for school age learners. The flute is small and compact, easy to learn, and is one of the more affordable instruments in the orchestra.
A symphony is a large-scale musical composition, usually with three or four movements. An orchestra is a group of musicians with a variety of instruments, which usually includes the violin family.
A major reason for this was because composers began to write more harmonically robust music that didn't require lugging a harpsichord around. And since violinists weren't going anywhere, the concertmaster became the orchestra's player-coach.
Classical music not only nurtures our soul but grows our mind in ways that have been substantiated by myriad of studies over recent years. Exposing the very young to classical music has been documented to help develop language skills, reasoning, and spatial intelligence.
Orchestra Model, Grand Auditorium, or Model “OM” or “GA” It is a mid-size guitar, with great balance, volume, and projection. It has more presence than the Parlor or “O” guitars, but lacks the heavy bass response of the guitars below. This makes for a good finger-style guitar, or one used for solo gigs.
Conductor: The leader of the orchestra, who provides the beat by moving his/her arms, usually with a baton in one hand, to keep all members of the orchestra together and ensure that players come in at the correct time.
Being relatively easy for beginner musicians, the saxophone is popular for both learning and listening. However, we rarely see it in orchestra concerts. Why? Many believe that the saxophone's timbre is hard to blend, out-of-tune, and simply too loud.
The conductor is a “front man” of sorts. Some people believe that for the whole orchestra to act as a single ensemble, it is essential to have a conductor, and not only that, but a competent one!
The name Rieu is of French Huguenot origin. André was born to Andries Antonie Rieu and is the third of six children. He has two older sisters (Teresia and Cilia), two younger brothers (Robert and Jean-Philippe), and a younger sister (Gaby Buirma-Rieu). Rieu's father was conductor of the Maastricht Symphony Orchestra.
Orchestras always tune to 'A', because every string instrument has an 'A' string. The standard pitch is A=440 Hertz (440 vibrations per second). Some orchestras favor a slightly higher pitch, like A=442 or higher, which some believe results in a brighter sound.