Why do orchestras have so many of the same instrument?

Answer:

The basic principle is very simple. The more important and busy parts you have, the lower the volume, the higher the rank on the same instrument, the closer you sit to the conductor. Of the harmonization theory of Western music, the four-voice system is also applied to the orchestra.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you call the person who directs an orchestra?

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.

How much does a violinist in an orchestra make?

Violinist Salaries Job Title Salary - American Federation of Musicians Local 802 Violinist salaries - 1 salaries reported $30,879/yr Green Bay Symphony Orchestra Violinist salaries - 1 salaries reported $35/hr Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Section Violinist salaries - 6 salaries reported $27,037/yr 17 filas más

What is the largest instrument section in a symphony orchestra?

Double bass

What is called an orchestra?

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.

What section of the orchestra does the cello belong to?

String section

Is there a Disney Orchestra?

Imagine seeing all your favourite film music performed live by a full symphony orchestra in Disney or Universal theme parks!

What is the difference between an orchestra and a symphony?

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.

22 Related Question Answers Found:

What is orchestra director called?

The principal conductor of an orchestra or opera company is sometimes referred to as a music director or chief conductor, or by the German words Kapellmeister or Dirigent (or, in the feminine, Dirigentin).

What was the purpose of a Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra?

The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra was conceived by Britten as a score for a 1946 documentary film, Instruments of the Orchestra, and it was presented in that medium in London. Soon it was appropriated for the concert hall by symphony orchestras for performance, often with spoken commentary.

Why you should play in an orchestra?

Playing an instrument can help maintain or even increase coordination including fine motor skills. ... Keep Your Mind Active: In addition to helping with coordination, playing music with an orchestra can help keep your mind active. Not only are you perhaps learning new things, you are literally giving your brain a workout.

Do they use microphones to amplify an orchestra?

Standard amplification Since the 1960s, music theatre companies have reinforced the sound of the orchestra by placing microphones on instruments and amplifying them through a public address system. While this results in a louder sound, it may not correctly reproduce the ensemble sound and instrument tone.

What is difference between a band and an orchestra?

An orchestra is a large group of musicians which can include even 100 or more members. A band is a small group of musicians which generally includes a lesser number of members than orchestras. Orchestras use four main families of instruments – strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

How is the piano used in an orchestra?

The piano, in common with two other percussion instruments, cannot be played in an orchestral ensemble without being recognised. But, unlike those others, it happens to possess the capacity of all key- board instruments for rendering full melodic, harmonic and contra- puntal effects.

What does the double bass do in orchestra?

The double bass is the biggest string instrument in the orchestra. It emits low and muted tones, sometimes rhythmic, sometimes long, but almost always incredibly powerful. The double bass part often forms a stable foundation over which the rest of the orchestra's notes can resound.

Why are there more string instruments in an orchestra?

Orchestras generally have as many string players as they can afford, space permitting. Big budget orchestras will have much larger string sections than orchestras with smaller budgets. Opera orchestras use a smaller string section due to space limitations in the pit.

What type of music is played by an orchestra?

Orchestras play a wide range of repertoire, including symphonies, opera and ballet overtures, concertos for solo instruments, and as pit ensembles for operas, ballets, and some types of musical theatre (e.g., Gilbert and Sullivan operettas).

Who is the principal player in an orchestra?

The section principal in an orchestra, as well as any large musical ensemble, is the lead player for each respective section of instruments. For example, there are multiple sections in an orchestra. The strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion sections all have subsections.

Why are percussion instruments at the back of the orchestra?

Percussion is, by its very nature, L O U D if you are close to it. Putting it at the back of an orchestra does two things. It allows a bit of space which mellows the sound, and second puts a lot of soft sound absorbers (other members of the orchestra) between the player and the audience.

Where is piano in an orchestra?

Do you think the piano belongs in this section? Well, it does have strings, 88 of them, but most experts consider it a percussion instrument because of the way the strings are struck by small hammers to make their sound. Therefore you will find it listed under the Percussion section later on this page.

Who is an orchestrator?

An orchestrator takes a composer's musical sketch and turns it into a score for orchestra, ensemble, or choral group, assigning the instruments and voices according to the composer's intentions.