Changes

Outside of church ensembles which were small in the [[Baroque period (music)|Baroque era]] and focused on choral groups and the organ, orchestras originated on the estates of the [[nobility]], with household servants providing an evenings entertainment after dinner. These ensembles typically were not much larger than 20 or 21 performers. A competition arose among the nobility for the quality of performance, and the richer noblemen even hired court composers to write music for them. [[Franz Joseph Haydn]] was one such composer. [[Gluck]] was another. Some of the richer noblemen - kings and emperors - if they were music lovers, offered their private orchestras for public hearing or accompaniment in [[operetta]]s in state-sponsored theaters.

Outside of church ensembles which were small in the [[Baroque period (music)|Baroque era]] and focused on choral groups and the organ, orchestras originated on the estates of the [[nobility]], with household servants providing an evenings entertainment after dinner. These ensembles typically were not much larger than 20 or 21 performers. A competition arose among the nobility for the quality of performance, and the richer noblemen even hired court composers to write music for them. [[Franz Joseph Haydn]] was one such composer. [[Gluck]] was another. Some of the richer noblemen - kings and emperors - if they were music lovers, offered their private orchestras for public hearing or accompaniment in [[operetta]]s in state-sponsored theaters.

These public hearings required more volume, so the private orchestra was doubled in size from a standard of 22 performers to 44 by [[Beethoven]]'s time, when the demands of the [[French Revolution]] required more access by the public to the privileges heretofore held by the [[monarchy]].

These public hearings required more volume, so the private orchestra was doubled in size from a standard of 22 performers to 44 by [[Beethoven]]'s time, when the demands of the [[French Revolution]] required more public access to the privileges heretofore held only by the [[monarchy]].

By Wagner's time, Wagner again doubled the size of the orchestra from 44 to 88 or 90 for dramatic effect; it also had an economic effect of creating jobs in cities and towns throughout [[Europe]], and generated a sense of community in the theater among both performers and audience. The Wagnerian orchestra of 90 performers is the modern standard of orchestras.

By Wagner's time, Wagner again doubled the size of the orchestra from 44 to 88 or 90 for dramatic effect; it also had an economic effect of creating jobs in cities and towns throughout [[Europe]], and generated a sense of community in the theater among both performers and audience. The Wagnerian orchestra of 90 performers is the modern standard of orchestras.