Why does an orchestra need so many instruments?

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Answer:

Although violins have a high, singing quality, they are not particularly loud. So, just as you need more upper voices to make sure they're heard over the lower voices in a choir, you need at least two violins per woodwind or brass instrument to achieve a balanced sound.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is one of the types of orchestras?

Orchestra is a broad term for any ensemble featuring a hefty lineup of strings. Two basic orchestras exist—chamber orchestras (small!) and symphony orchestras (big!). Chamber orchestras employ about 50 or fewer musicians (who may all play strings).

What do you call a person conducting in an orchestra or chair?

The person standing in front of (audience) in an orchestra is generally known as conductor, choral director or chair master, or Maestro, he carries his hand wave is called a BATON.

Which was the most important section in the classical orchestra?

Sections of an Orchestra The string section is the most important part of a symphony orchestra. It has more than half of the musicians and consists of violins, violas, cellos and string basses .

Who choose instrument combinations when orchestrating a piece?

Orchestration is the combination of a conductor's musical ideas with the composer's musical ideas. Composers choose instrument combinations when orchestrating a piece.

What is the smallest orchestra?

Chamber orchestra

Which categories of instruments are commonly found in both orchestras in marching bands?

The typical orchestra is divided into four groups of instruments: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The typical Western marching band, school band, or wind ensemble (woodwinds and brass together are winds) leaves out the strings, but otherwise uses most of the same instruments as the orchestra.

What is difference between orchestra and band?

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.

24 Related Question Answers Found:

Where was the orchestra first played?

In the 18th century in Germany, Johann Stamitz and other composers in what is known as the Mannheim school established the basic composition of the modern symphony orchestra: four sections, consisting of woodwinds (flutes, oboes, and bassoons), brass (horns and trumpets), percussion (two timpani), and strings (first ...

Where do clarinets sit in an orchestra?

This instrument plays the highest notes in the orchestra. The CLARINET sits directly behind the flutes and is long and black. It is descended from an instrument called the chalumeau.

What's orchestra mean?

An orchestra is a large group of musicians who play a variety of different instruments together. Orchestras usually play classical music.

What are the strings in an orchestra?

The strings are the largest family of instruments in the orchestra and they come in four sizes: the violin, which is the smallest, viola, cello, and the biggest, the double bass, sometimes called the contrabass.

How much do videogame orchestras make?

In general, Composers can earn anywhere from $30,000 to $75,000+. Video Game Composers earn income through creative fees, production or a combination of both. They are often paid by the minute for recorded and mixed music.

What is difference between band and orchestra?

A “band” includes brass, percussion, and woodwinds along with flutes, clarinets, and trumpets. An “orchestra” is composed of different string instruments like violins, basses, and violas.

Which orchestra was the largest in size?

A gathering of musicians in Frankfurt, Germany, broke the world record for largest orchestra. After a few visits to your local symphony orchestra (or philharmonic — they're all pretty much the same anyway), you may start to notice that the size may fluctuate between pieces.

What section is the piano in an orchestra?

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.

Are bass clarinets in orchestra?

Bass clarinets regularly perform in orchestras, wind ensembles/concert bands, occasionally in marching bands, and play an occasional solo role in contemporary music and jazz in particular. Someone who plays a bass clarinet is called a bass clarinetist.

Is a conductor necessary for an orchestra?

Most importantly a conductor serves as a messenger for the composer. It is their responsibility to understand the music and convey it through gesture so transparently that the musicians in the orchestra understand it perfectly. Those musicians can then transmit a unified vision of the music out to the audience.

Where is the violin in the orchestra?

If space or numbers are limited, cellos and basses can be put in the middle, violins and violas on the left (thus facing the audience) and winds to the right; this is the usual arrangement in orchestra pits.

Who created the first orchestra?

The word derives from the ancient Greek part of a stage where instruments and the chorus combined music and drama to create theater. The first semblance of a modern orchestra came in the early 17th century when the Italian opera composer Claudio Monteverdi formally assigned specific instruments to perform his music.

What does orchestra seating mean?

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English orchestra section/seatsAmerican English the area of seats in a theatre close to and on the same level as the stage → orchestra.

How many conductors has the London Symphony Orchestra had?

From Elgar to Previn and Michael Tilson Thomas to Sir Simon Rattle, the LSO has been blessed with some illustrious Principal Conductors and Music Directors. In it's 116-year history, the Orchestra has been led under the baton of 16 great conductors.

Why is Trans-Siberian Orchestra called that?

Flom signed a multialbum deal in January 1996, giving the project a different name but using Savatage's musicians. Mr. O'Neill called the act “Trans-Siberian Orchestra,” after the railroad in Siberia, a symbol of hope in a harsh, unforgiving place, he says. ... A few years later, TSO began touring for the first time.