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.

The Instruments of the Orchestra

The modern symphony can be divided into four sections, namely the strings, the woodwind, the brass, and the percussion. The principal instruments of each section are:

Strings

• 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.

• Viola
• Cello (or Violoncello)
• Double bass

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 violoncello). 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.

Woodwind

• Flute
• Piccolo
• Oboe
• English Horn (or Cor Anglais)
• Clarinet
• Bass Clarinet
• Bassoon
• Contrabassoon (or Double Bassoon)
• Saxophone Family (rarely used)

Woodwind instruments typically play counterpoint to string melodies, and add expression of their own. A typical modern orchestra will have at least three flutes, oboes, clarinets, and bassoons; one of the players of each type will also usually play a second instrument (a practice called "doubling"): an oboeist will double on english horn, a flutist on piccolo, a clarinetist on bass clarinet or E-flat clarinet, and bassoon on contrabassoon. Woodwind instruments provide a warmer sound to the orchestra.

Brass

• Trumpet
• French Horn
• Tenor Trombone
• Bass Trombone
• Tuba

The brass section of a modern orchestra is composed of horns, trumpets, trombones, and tubas. These instruments are capable of producing the loudest, most penetrating sounds. The brass section playing all together is often used in fanfares and other triumphant portions of compositions. The lower brass instruments also often play soft, sustained chords together with woodwinds for a special effect. Brass instruments are also effective as solo instruments, as they can project over the entire orchestra with little effort.

Percussion

• Timpani
• Bass Drum
• Side Drum
• Cymbals
• Triangle
• Harp
• Xylophone
• Glockenspiel
• Castanets
• Whip
• Vibraphone
• Celeste

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.