Orchestra

The Western Illinois University Symphony Orchestra.

An orchestra is an ensemble of musicians, led by a director. Orchestras are used frequently in classical music and often have the instruments divided into sections. The traditional European orchestra is made up of four groups of instruments - strings, woodwind, brass and percussion.

Strings

The string section consists of violins, divided into first and seconds, violas, violoncellos and double basses. Four-part harmony is frequently used in the scoring notation for the string section. The string section can produce the most expressive medium in the whole orchestra - any point of nuance or subtlety is possible, from the softest pianissimo to the most solid forte. Contrasts of tone are also available by mechanical means, such as -

1. the plucking of the strings (known as pizzicato).
2. the ponticello tremolo (bowing the strings nearer to the bridge of the instrument).
3. the user of the mute (consordino), a small clamp fitted over the bridge.
4. col legno (strings are struck with the back of the bow).
5. double stopping (bowing two strings at a time).
6. harmonics

The strings form the backbone of the orchestra - great masterpieces have been written for soloists and for the string quartet (first violin, second violin, viola and violincello). In an orchestral piece, the strings are used almost continuously. In general, the first and second violins play in close harmony, the violas play a similar part in a lower range to strengthen the harmonic texture. The cellos and double basses share a bass part which provides a rhythmic foundation.

Violin

Main article: Violin

The violin is the most important instrument of the orchestra. The leader of the first violins is called the leader of the orchestra and ranks next in importance to the conductor.

Woodwinds

Woodwind instruments typically play counterpoint to string melodys, and add expression of their own. A typical modern orchestra will have a piccolo, several flutes, oboes, clarinets, and bassoons, as well as an english horn, a bass clarinet and a contra bassoon. Woodwind instruments provide a warmer sound to the orchestra.

Brass

The brass section of a modern orchestra is composed of horns, trumpets, trombones, and tubas. The brass section provides much louder, clearer notes and is often used in fanfares and other triumphant portions of compositions.

Percussion

The percussion section of the orchestra is the most varied, consisting of instruments such as snare and bass drums, timpani, xylophone, cymbals, triangles, and other percussion instruments tailored to the specific orchestral piece being performed.