Why is the saxophone not included in the standard instrumentation for an orchestra?

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Question: Why aren't there any saxophones? The most commonly given reason for why saxophones are rarely used in orchestral pieces is because they were invented much later than the standard orchestra. ... For now, not enough pieces include saxophone to add it as a standard instrument, but who knows what the future holds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the loudest orchestral instrument?

The trumpet is generally considered the loudest instrument in the modern orchestra.

How important is a conductor to the performance of 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.

Are there different types of orchestras?

Two basic orchestras exist—chamber orchestras (small!) and symphony orchestras (big!). Chamber orchestras employ about 50 or fewer musicians (who may all play strings). As the name suggests, they play “chamber music”—older tunes written for private halls, aristocratic parlors, and glitzy palace chambers.

What Orchestra plays Christmas music?

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

What is the Chicago Symphony Orchestra known for?

Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), American symphony orchestra based in Chicago, Ill., renowned for its distinctive tone and its recordings under such conductors as Fritz Reiner and Sir Georg Solti.

Who is the current conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra?

Franz Welser-Möst

18 Related Question Answers Found:

How does conducting an orchestra work?

Conductors act as guides to the orchestras or choirs they conduct. They choose the works to be performed and study their scores, to which they may make certain adjustments (such as in tempo, articulation, phrasing, repetitions of sections), work out their interpretation, and relay their vision to the performers.

How do you mix music for orchestra?

To create a “perfect” orchestral mix, you will have to cut every instrument at the right spot, even if it's just 1db or 2, and the combination of all your EQ moves should result in a balanced frequency response which makes the ensemble coherent and represents the tone of each instrument nicely.

Where do clarinets players sit in an orchestra?

The seating of the orchestra however remains unchanged: Flutes and oboes left in front in the first row. The clarinet players usually sit in several rows behind this, next to them Bassoons.

Where do the musicians sit in the orchestra?

Orchestra Chairs The most skilled musician sits in the first chair of each section and plays any solo parts for that instrument. The next most skilled player would sit in the second chair and the least skilled musician would sit in the last chair of his or her section.

Is Garritan Personal Orchestra good?

“Garritan Personal Orchestra 5 is a compact and budget-friendly orchestral library, but a lot more complete and flexible than many much larger and more expensive libraries. It's an excellent orchestra for the bedroom producer who doesn't want to spend a lot of money and disk space on orchestra samples.

How much does a professional musician in an orchestra earn?

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.

Where does the leader of the orchestra sit?

The Concertmaster (American English) or leader (British English) is the most important violinist in an orchestra. He or she will sit in the front seat, by the conductor's left.

Where are the orchestra seats?

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.

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.

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 ...