The Orchestra
An orchestra is a group of musicians that get together and play instruments to make music. They rehearse for several days, or weeks and then give a public performance showcasing their talent and musicianship.
There are different types of orchestras that mix and match the different families of the orchestra. They are listed below from smallest to largest, some types have been omitted for brevity.
A chamber orchestra is usually the smallest grouping of instruments. A chamber orchestra, or chamber ensemble, can be a single musician or many musicians. Most orchestras are led by a conductor, if an orchestra does not have a conductor, it is considered a chamber orchestra. A chamber ensemble can be a solo, duet, trio, quartet, choir of instruments, or large groups, but is usually a small number of musicians.
A pit orchestra is a group of musicians that play in the pit located underneath the stage of performance halls. Pit orchestra are used during musical productions such as "Oklahoma," "West Side Story," and many more. Pit orchestras are also used for operas.
A string orchestra is a group consisting of only the string family of instruments, and occasional percussion instruments.
A wind orchestra is a group consisting of only the wind family of instruments. Occasionally a string bass will be incorporated in with a wind orchestra, even though it is technically not a wind instrument. A wind orchestra usually uses the percussion section and is usually referred to as a wind symphony, or a band.
A symphonic orchestra is the largest of all of the different types of orchestras. This group is used for large productions, and for pieces requiring large numbers of musicians.
Usually, when most people refer to an orchestra, they are talking about a symphony orchestra. A symphony orchestra is the most recognizable of the orchestras and they play music ranging from ancient gregorian chants and renaissance music all the way to modern classics and pop charts.
There are different types of orchestras that mix and match the different families of the orchestra. They are listed below from smallest to largest, some types have been omitted for brevity.
A chamber orchestra is usually the smallest grouping of instruments. A chamber orchestra, or chamber ensemble, can be a single musician or many musicians. Most orchestras are led by a conductor, if an orchestra does not have a conductor, it is considered a chamber orchestra. A chamber ensemble can be a solo, duet, trio, quartet, choir of instruments, or large groups, but is usually a small number of musicians.
A pit orchestra is a group of musicians that play in the pit located underneath the stage of performance halls. Pit orchestra are used during musical productions such as "Oklahoma," "West Side Story," and many more. Pit orchestras are also used for operas.
A string orchestra is a group consisting of only the string family of instruments, and occasional percussion instruments.
A wind orchestra is a group consisting of only the wind family of instruments. Occasionally a string bass will be incorporated in with a wind orchestra, even though it is technically not a wind instrument. A wind orchestra usually uses the percussion section and is usually referred to as a wind symphony, or a band.
A symphonic orchestra is the largest of all of the different types of orchestras. This group is used for large productions, and for pieces requiring large numbers of musicians.
Usually, when most people refer to an orchestra, they are talking about a symphony orchestra. A symphony orchestra is the most recognizable of the orchestras and they play music ranging from ancient gregorian chants and renaissance music all the way to modern classics and pop charts.
The four families of instruments
Orchestras are broken up into four families of instruments. These families are:
1. Strings
2. Woodwinds
3. Brass
4. Percussion
Families are determined by the way that each instrument makes sound and the characteristics of the instruments. Sound is produced by vibrations in the air, every instrument, and everything that makes sound vibrates to create that sound. Some things vibrate a lot, some vibrate a little, some vibrate very fast, and some very slow, but every object that makes a sound vibrates in one way or another. When we sing, our vocal chords vibrate depending on the speed of the air going past them. When we speak, our vocal chords are vibrating as well, but in a different way than when we sing. Each family of instruments vibrates in a different way to create their unique sound.
The orchestral string family is made up of the violin, viola, cello, string bass or double bass, and harp. Other string instruments include the ukulele, guitar, vihuela, guitarron, autoharp, and electric bass. While the piano does have string inside of it that vibrate, the piano is usually grouped with the percussion instruments because of the role that it plays in the orchestra. All of these instruments produce sound by the strings on them vibrating. The pitch of the instrument is changed by putting fingers on the string to make the string either longer or shorter. As the string gets shorter, or smaller, the pitch rises, and as the string gets longer, or larger, the pitch drops.
The orchestral woodwind section consists of the piccolo, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, english horn, bassoon, and contrabassoon. Other woodwind instruments include the recorder family, the harmonica, and the saxophone. The saxophone is a woodwind instrument, even though it is made out of a brass material, the saxophone is not a brass instrument. These instruments produce sound by blowing air through a mouthpiece that vibrates against the mouthpieces, or against a small piece cane called a reed, to produce the sound.
The orchestral brass family consists of the trumpet, french horn, trombone, and tuba. These instruments produce sound by vibrating the lips very quickly together in a "buzz." You can practice this at home! Simply lick your lips to make sure they are moist, take a deep breath of air, put your lips together, but keep your teeth apart, and blow air really fast while trying to keep your lips from coming apart. Once practiced enough times this will create a fun sounding buzz!
The orchestral percussion family of the orchestra consists of far too many instruments to cover here. The major instruments to know are the glockenspiel, xylophone, marimba, snare drum, bass drum, and timpani. All percussion instruments produce sound by vibrating the instruments themselves. Percussion instruments are played by hitting them, shaking them, or scraping them. Without damaging anything, walk around your house and see how many things make sound when you hit them, shake them, or scrape them, any of those could be a potential percussion instrument! Some groups such as "Stomp!" have created entire series using instruments that they made or found rather than what are considered the standard orchestral instruments.
In each section below we will explore each family of instruments more in depth.
1. Strings
2. Woodwinds
3. Brass
4. Percussion
Families are determined by the way that each instrument makes sound and the characteristics of the instruments. Sound is produced by vibrations in the air, every instrument, and everything that makes sound vibrates to create that sound. Some things vibrate a lot, some vibrate a little, some vibrate very fast, and some very slow, but every object that makes a sound vibrates in one way or another. When we sing, our vocal chords vibrate depending on the speed of the air going past them. When we speak, our vocal chords are vibrating as well, but in a different way than when we sing. Each family of instruments vibrates in a different way to create their unique sound.
The orchestral string family is made up of the violin, viola, cello, string bass or double bass, and harp. Other string instruments include the ukulele, guitar, vihuela, guitarron, autoharp, and electric bass. While the piano does have string inside of it that vibrate, the piano is usually grouped with the percussion instruments because of the role that it plays in the orchestra. All of these instruments produce sound by the strings on them vibrating. The pitch of the instrument is changed by putting fingers on the string to make the string either longer or shorter. As the string gets shorter, or smaller, the pitch rises, and as the string gets longer, or larger, the pitch drops.
The orchestral woodwind section consists of the piccolo, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, english horn, bassoon, and contrabassoon. Other woodwind instruments include the recorder family, the harmonica, and the saxophone. The saxophone is a woodwind instrument, even though it is made out of a brass material, the saxophone is not a brass instrument. These instruments produce sound by blowing air through a mouthpiece that vibrates against the mouthpieces, or against a small piece cane called a reed, to produce the sound.
The orchestral brass family consists of the trumpet, french horn, trombone, and tuba. These instruments produce sound by vibrating the lips very quickly together in a "buzz." You can practice this at home! Simply lick your lips to make sure they are moist, take a deep breath of air, put your lips together, but keep your teeth apart, and blow air really fast while trying to keep your lips from coming apart. Once practiced enough times this will create a fun sounding buzz!
The orchestral percussion family of the orchestra consists of far too many instruments to cover here. The major instruments to know are the glockenspiel, xylophone, marimba, snare drum, bass drum, and timpani. All percussion instruments produce sound by vibrating the instruments themselves. Percussion instruments are played by hitting them, shaking them, or scraping them. Without damaging anything, walk around your house and see how many things make sound when you hit them, shake them, or scrape them, any of those could be a potential percussion instrument! Some groups such as "Stomp!" have created entire series using instruments that they made or found rather than what are considered the standard orchestral instruments.
In each section below we will explore each family of instruments more in depth.