Going out to the Orchestra, Opera, Musical Theater or Mass is a hobby that many people enjoy. Music plays an important role in many people’s lives, whether to listen to it or to participate. These groups mentioned above all consist of an orchestra. So what is an orchestra?
The word orchestra comes from the ancient Greek. Originally it meant the semicircular space in front of the stage in a theater where the chorus of a Greek play danced or sang. Later, at the beginning of the 17th century when the first Italian operas were performed, a small group of musicians accompanied the singers and sat in a similar space in front of the stage. And so the word Orchestra came to mean a body of musicians.
There are various types of orchestras. Group size can be large or small and is usually led by a driver.
great orchestras Numbering around a hundred musicians, they are seen in most big cities and perform in a variety of settings. They are often called:
1. symphonic Orchestra for the symphonies they play and which require a large number of musicians. They also play a wide range of other music.
two. Philharmonic Orchestra which means ‘loving harmony of music’
smaller orchestras They come in many different types and styles and include the following:
1. Chamber Orchestra: This orchestra is usually made up of about twenty musicians who can play comfortably in a large room in a mansion, hence the name. the music performed consists of 18th century works, for example, by Bach and Mozart, as well as more modern works.
two. little orchestra: This orchestra is slightly larger than the chamber orchestra and plays more modern works.
3. theater orchestras: These orchestras accompany musical theatre, opera, ballets and can be made up of up to sixty musicians.
Four. string orchestra: This orchestra is composed solely of about twenty string instrumentalists. The music played is classical and modern.
5. Jazz and Concert Orchestras that play and record light music.
It is interesting to note that a group of wind players playing together is usually called a Band, eg Symphonic Band.
So what are the instruments of a typical symphony orchestra?
There are four main groups of instruments that play in a symphony orchestra.
String instruments they occupy about two thirds or three quarters of the entire orchestra. They are made up of around 32 violins (first and second), 12 violas, 10 cellos and 8 double basses plus one or two harps.
woodwind instruments they consist of flutes, clarinets, oboes and bassoons. Usually there are around 2 to 4 players of each of these instruments. One player of each type of instrument may double a higher or lower version of that instrument, for example, flutists double on a piccolo, which is a shorter, higher flute.
brass instruments they consist of trumpets, French horns, trombones, tuba(s), and sometimes a cornet. The numbers vary depending on the work performed. Some modern works may use 6 trumpets, 8 horns, 4 trombones, and 2 or 3 tubas.
Percussion instruments consist of 4 to 5 players. The instruments are varied and are shaken, rubbed or hit. Examples used in a symphony orchestra are timpani, tom-tom, cymbals, triangle, tambourines, and various types of drums.
Where do these instrumentalists sit?
A typical symphony orchestra has a seating plan in the shape of a semicircle (from the original meaning of Orchestra) with a conductor at the center front on a raised platform. The layout may vary depending on the driver used.
The violins sit to the conductor’s left in order of first violins near the edge of the stage and second violins next to the first. the cells (edge of stage) and violas sit to the conductor’s right, with the double basses behind. The woodwinds sit in the middle with the flutes (in front) and clarinets (behind) on the left and the oboes (in front) and bassoons (behind) on the right. The brass sits behind the woodwinds. And the percussion sits at the back of the orchestra
What does the Director do?
The conductor conducts the orchestra with the use of a baton and his arms. They tell musicians all sorts of things like the speed of the music, rhythm, expression, how to play loud and soft, and get players to the right place. In rehearsals they correct the musicians in these aspects. The principal violin, who is the leader of the orchestra, is responsible for the discipline of the musicians during rehearsals.