Who has never felt the charm of a live orchestra? There is always a touch of magic in the performances we experience in theaters or even on television. However, the definition of an orchestra might be taken for granted. How is it composed? What are the instruments found in it? Are they always positioned in the same place within the ensemble? Here, we will clarify these details and reveal the fascination of the orchestra.
Table of Contents
Types of Orchestras
When we talk about an orchestra, we must consider that there are different types of orchestras. The two most important and well-known are the symphony orchestra and the chamber orchestra.
The Symphony Orchestra
The symphony orchestra consists of all the instruments from various families and can include a very large number of musicians (even up to a hundred). In general, an orchestra, regardless of its type, must have at least ten musicians to qualify as such.
The Philharmonic Orchestra
Some may have also heard of a philharmonic orchestra. Its name does not indicate a specific type of orchestra based on instruments or sections but rather refers to a specific form of musician organization, often structured as a cooperative association of independent musicians.
The Chamber Orchestra
The chamber orchestra is smaller in size, with fewer musicians, and can consist of only one family of instruments (such as a wind orchestra, brass orchestra, and so on).
Sections of an Orchestra
When we enjoy a performance, whether live or on TV, we might notice some patterns: certain types of musicians are always in specific positions, while others are elsewhere. Indeed, the orchestra is divided into specific sections, where each instrument occupies its designated space.
We could even talk about an orchestra map (see the videos below of the article). There’s also a reason for orchestra seating arrangement.
Each instrument, or family of instruments, has its own characteristics and sound, and is placed within the ensemble accordingly. Let’s examine each section (in a symphony orchestra, which includes all families), while we will delve deeper into the characteristics of the instruments in a later section.
Strings
Everyone notices that the strings are placed at the front, and they often take the musical lead as well. Using the conductor as a reference point, we can say that the violins are to the left. They are further divided into first violins (far left) and second violins (closer to the conductor, still on the left). The violas are positioned in front, while the cellos are on the right, along with the double basses (located beyond the cellos).
The Woodwind Section
Behind the violas, in the central position of the orchestra, is the woodwind section, which includes instruments such as, in the row closest to the violas, from left to right, the flutes, oboes and piccolos. Behind these, also from left to right, are the bass clarinet, the clarinets, the contrabassoons, and the bassoons.
Brass
The brass section is positioned behind the woodwinds. Their placement is due to the power of their sound, which should not overpower the others. From left to right, we find the trumpets, the trombones, the tuba, the horns, and the english horns. These last three are placed closer to the double bass section, on the right side of the conductor.
Percussion
The section furthest from the conductor (and the audience) is the percussion section, consisting of instruments that can vary from one orchestra to another. Usually, you will find the triangle, the cymbals, the timpani, and the bass drum. Depending on the requirements of the pieces being performed, other instruments may be included, such as tubular bells, snare drums, gongs, or xylophones.
Piano and Harp
The piano and the harp are not mandatory instruments in an orchestra. However, if they are present, they have their own section located to the left of the conductor, next to the first violins and behind the second violins. The piano, in particular, often serves as a solo instrument, and thus is not always included in the orchestra ensemble.
Section Variations
Of course, the orchestra layout can change. The information provided above describes the most common arrangement in modern orchestras. If there are “anomalies” in the orchestra you’re watching, it’s perfectly normal. The concert’s specific requirements may have led to some adjustments.
An Overview of Orchestra Instruments
Each instrument has its own placement, designed to blend seamlessly into the whole. Achieving a balance among the instruments is crucial, and this is accomplished through their positioning within the orchestra. The sharpest and hardest-sounding instruments are positioned further away from the audience. Similarly, the percussion section, known for its energy due to low frequencies, is located at the back near the walls. Instruments that play a leading role, such as the violins, are placed at the front for this reason. Let’s explore the characteristics of the most important instruments in greater detail.
Strings
The string instruments are so named because they are played using a bow, which can be used in various ways. Beyond drawing the bow across the strings, musicians can employ techniques such as bow strikes or pizzicato, where the string is plucked with the fingers.
Each string instrument has a specific range. Among the strings, violins can reach the highest notes, followed in descending order by violas, cellos, and double basses.
Woodwinds
Woodwinds are historically named for their material, but they are now often made of metal. The highest-pitched instrument in this family, with a bright and crystalline sound, is the piccolo, while the contrabassoon produces the lowest tones. Within this group, the oboes are known for their nasal, pastoral sound, whereas the clarinets are famous for representing unique characters in film soundtracks.
Brass
The brass instruments produce significant energy. The trumpet achieves the highest notes, while playing the lowest requires more air from the musician. The tuba reaches the lowest tones, preceded by the horns and trombones. A curiosity about the french horn: its bell faces the wall, allowing the low frequencies to bounce off and create a fuller soundscape.
Percussion
The defining characteristic of percussion instruments is their pitch. Some are pitched percussion, while others are unpitched (not tuned to a specific pitch), and on sheet music, they are represented on a single line rather than a full staff. Examples of unpitched percussion include the bass drum and cymbals (in the case of orchestras). There are others, such as maracas, guiro, and shakers.
The Harp
The harp is a very unique instrument in terms of both structure and operation. There are two types of harps: the classical harp and the Celtic harp. In the classical harp, there are seven pedals, each dedicated to a note. These pedals have three positions, allowing for note alterations (sharp, flat, and natural).
The Irish harp, unlike the classical harp which is played with the fingertips, is usually played with fingernails. Famous for appearing on euro coins, it is featured as the official national emblem of Ireland.
The Piano
The piano is both a stringed and percussion instrument. This is because inside the piano’s case are hammers that strike groups of strings whenever a key is pressed. It is the instrument with the widest frequency range, from approximately 27.5 Hz to 4190 Hz.
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