ORCHESTRA

STRINGS INSTRUMENTS

PIANO

HARPS

PERCUSSION

BRASS

WOODWIND

ORCHESTRA

A numerous mixed body of instrumentalists. As a more or less stable institution, the orchestra originated in early 17th-century opera, being afterwards contiunally modified (obsolete instruments being replaced by new ones), enlarged, and re-systematized. So SYMPHONAY ORCHESTRA, standard, large orchestra of 19th and 20th centuries, able to play symphonies, etc.- as opposed e.g. to chamber orchestra (small size) or STRING ORCHESTRA (strings only). The term THEATRE ORCHESTRA customarily indicates not an opera orchestra (which is ideally of 'SYMPHONIE' size) but a smaller orchestra used for musicals, etc., commonly including saxophones. A combination of wind instruments only, or any combination for dancing to, is commonly called not an orchestra but a band - the occasional 20th century used of DANCE ORCHESTRA being pretentious. Not that PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, unlike symphony orchestra. Although composers may vary boththe kind and numbers of instruments used (variety being especially noticeable in the percussion setion), the forces standardized by the requirements of 20th-century (and late 19th-century) symphonic music are:

(a) woodwind: 3 flutes, 1 doubling piccolo.

3 oboes, 1 doubling English horn.

3 clarinets, 1 doubling bass clarinet.

3 bassoons, 1 doubling double-bassoon.

(b) brass: 4 (sometimes 6) horns.

3 trumpets.

3 trombones (2 tenor, 1 bass).

1 tube.

(c) percussion: 3 kettledrums (1 player). Snare-drum, bass-drum,m cymbals, gong, trinangle, xylophone, vibraphone, etc. (2 or more players).

(d) unclassified: 2 harps.

1 piano.

(e) strings: first violins (about 14).

second violins (about 14).

violas (about 12).

cellos (about 10).

double -bassese (about 8).