Why did Britten write The Young Person’s Guide to the orchestra?

Answer:

When Benjamin Britten was asked to write a piece introducing children to the instruments of the orchestra, he thought that a theme and variations was the best way to do this. He composed The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (also known as Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell) in 1945.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many members are in the gamelan orchestra?

The tradition is strongest in Bali and Java–its name is from the Javanese word for hammer, gamel. It is played quite differently from Western music, with a 50-piece orchestra of mostly percussion instruments that are built and tuned as one unit.

Why do orchestras have so many violins?

For large symphony orchestras, there are 10 First Violinists and the same number of Second Violinists. There are about 10 singers for viola, 8 for cello and 6 for double bass. The reason that the number of violinists is so high is due to the characteristics of the violin itself and the preference of the composers.

How do you use the word orchestra?

orchestra

  1. The orchestra played with a winning combination of gusto and precision.
  2. The orchestra will give two more performances this week.
  3. She plays the flute in an orchestra.
  4. The orchestra is unrivalled in terms of technical mastery and sheer vitality.
  5. The orchestra is currently on tour in Germany.
More items...

What is in a Chinese orchestra?

The Chinese orchestra has four sections: bowed string, plucked string, wind, and percussion. The Chinese orchestra does not have a brass section and the Western orchestra does not have a plucked strings section. ... The percussion section incudes many different types of gongs, cymbals and drums.

Why was the role of the conductor more important in the Romantic period orchestra?

The conductor would indicate entrances and cutoffs, guide musicians who could not fully hear what musicians on the other side of the orchestra were doing, provide a single reference point for the rhythm, set the color and tone through different movements, and keep control of the music throughout changes in tempo.

Is the brass part of the orchestra?

The brass family members that are most commonly used in the orchestra include the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and the tuba.

What's the smallest instrument in the orchestra?

Piccolo The smallest instrument in a traditional orchestra is the piccolo. A piccolo is a flute but is much smaller in size.

20 Related Question Answers Found:

What does it mean to orchestrate a song?

Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra (or, more loosely, for any musical ensemble, such as a concert band) or of adapting music composed for another medium for an orchestra.

How big is the Chicago Symphony Orchestra?

Symphony CenterOwnerChicago Symphony Orchestra AssociationTypeConcert hallCapacityOrchestra Hall: 2,522 Armour Stage: 150 Grainger Ballroom: 300 The Club at Symphony Center: 120 Buntrock Hall: 350ConstructionBuilt1904আরও 20টি সারি

What is an orchestra bass called?

The double bass, also known simply as the bass (or by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox additions such as the octobass).

Are saxophones in an orchestra?

Ranging from sopranino to contrabass, the family of saxophones curates one of the widest sound ranges available acoustically. Being relatively easy for beginner musicians, the saxophone is popular for both learning and listening. However, we rarely see it in orchestra concerts.

Is Band easier than orchestra?

Orchestra Takes More Effort Than Band. “You have to put a lot of effort into what your playing,” said Rochelle Flores, “The strings on all of the stringed instruments that you play in an orchestra are very difficult.” ... Since orchestral instruments require more effort, they are better.

Do orchestras play chords?

You can play wonderful sustained chords with the whole orchestra. You can play the low strings, the mid strings, the high strings or all together on four different sections of your master keyboard. ... Playing with low velocity triggers the major chord, playing with high velocity triggers the minor chord.

Is there a horn in an orchestra?

The HORN is in the back row of the orchestra, behind the bassoons and clarinets. The horn is a very long brass tube wrapped around in a circle several times. If you unwound a horn's tubing, it would be twenty-two feet in length! The TRUMPET sits to the right of the horns, and the TROMBONE sits behind the trumpet.

How long does an orchestra practice?

A professional orchestra probably practices around 2–3 hours. For a professional group, the players can probably only practice around 2–3 hours per day (and this is focused practice, not watch the video then practice or walk around procrastinating).

Do orchestra players wear ear protection?

Many musicians suffer ear damage. Professional orchestras have therefore taken measures in recent years to reduce the sound levels. ... They also well exceed the 85 dB(A) limit that European regulations stipulate for the compulsory wearing of ear protection on the work floor.

When did the bass drum join the orchestra?

Large two-headed drums have been in existence since 2500 bce, when they were used in Sumer. Not until the 18th century did the bass drum become a member of the European orchestra.

What is harder orchestra or band?

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.

What is the hardest orchestral piece to play?

These are the definitively the hardest pieces of music to playKaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji - Opus clavicembalisticum. ... Alexander Scriabin - Mysterium. ... Franz Liszt - La Campanella. ... Giovanni Bottesini - Double Bass Concerto No. ... J. S. Bach - Chaconne in D. ... Luciano Berio - Sequenzas. ... Conlon Nancarrow - Studies for Player Piano.더보기

What string instruments are not in an orchestra?

8 Instruments Rarely Used In OrchestraHarp – Although the harp is one of the most common instruments in the history of music, it is not always used in most classical compositions. ... Glass Armonica – ... Saxophone – ... Wagner Tuba – ... Alto Flute – ... Sarrusophone – ... Theremin – ... Organ –

What is the synonym of orchestra?

In this page you can discover 24 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for orchestra, like: band, instruments, musical ensemble, symphony, Kapelle (German), chamber, ensemble,gamelan, group, maestro and philharmonic.

How many instruments are in a full symphony orchestra?

A modern full-scale symphony orchestra consists of approximately one hundred permanent musicians, most often distributed as follows: 16–18 1st violins, 16 2nd violins, 12 violas, 12 cellos, 8 double basses, 4 flutes (one with piccolo as a specialty), 4 oboes (one with English horn as a specialty), 4 clarinets (one with ...

Which orchestra instrument can play the highest note?

Generally speaking, they are the piccolo (highest note is the highest C on the piano, although it requires a skilled player to comfortably play the notes in the top half or so of the highest octave) and the contrabassoon (which can comfortably reach the lowest Bb on the piano, and some instruments with a low A ...