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Musical Instrument Families—Western

Tradition

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What is an Orchestra ?Orchestra is an old Greek word which means “a dancing place.”In Greece, during the 5th century B.C., orchestra was the name given to the space in front of the main acting area which was used by the chorus, who danced as well as sang, and by the instrumentalists of open air theatres.Today we use the word orchestra to mean a reasonably large collection of instruments playing together as a group.

Greek Theater

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The orchestra has grown up gradually from early 17th century and is now a very wonderful and varied combination of instruments, which falls into four groups.

The Orchestra

Try to name the instruments that are

members in each group.

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Woodwind InstrumentsAs the name ‘woodwind’ suggests, the instruments of this section of the orchestra are mostly made of wood, though some are now often made of metal instead.

In each woodwind instruments there is a series of holes bored along the length of the tube. When all the holes are covered, the instrument sounds its lowest note. But if the player uncovers the bottom hole, a higher note is sounded.

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Woodwind Instrument

Nowadays, it is made of metal.

It is easy to recognize among the instruments of the woodwind section, as it is held sideways (transverse) rather than straight in front of the player.

The low notes are soft and mellow, but higher notes become brighter and more brilliant.

Flute

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Woodwind Instrument

It is a double-reed instrument.

It has reedy sound and can express pastoral feeling.

Oboe

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Of the four main woodwind instruments, it was last to join the orchestra.

It has a single reed -- a flat piece of cane.

The lower part of its range has a hollow but rich sound. The middle part of its range is smooth. High up, it sounds rather sharp.

Clarinet

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Woodwind Instrument

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It is a double-reed instrument with a conical tube 9 feet long.

The low notes are very reedy. The higher notes are more flute-like and sound lovely.

Bassoon

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Woodwind Instrument

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Brass Instruments

The sounds of the brass section, like those of the woodwind, are made by blowing.

Brass instruments are long, hollow brass tubes blown from one end. They are curved or bent into various shapes.

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Of the instruments in the brass section, it is the most ancient.

It is one of the most powerful and colorful musical instruments in the orchestra.

The tone quality is really brilliant.

Trumpet

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Brass Instruments

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It is a long conical tube coiled into a circular shape and ends in a large bell shape.

It has a beautiful mellow tone of pure and lofty character.

French Horn

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Brass Instruments

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The Italian name means ‘big trumpet’, and this instrument is in fact a long, folded trumpet with a more deeply cupped mouth-piece.

It has a rich, noble tone.

Trombone

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Brass Instruments

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String InstrumentsThe strings are the ‘backbone’ of the orchestra. More than half the members of an orchestra play string instruments.

The sound is produced by bowing, plucking or striking the string.

Many of these instruments are similar in shape and each has four strings, but in different sizes; all tuned in fifth except the double bass that is fourth.

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It is about 23.5 inches long.

These instruments of the orchestra are divided into two groups: first and second. The difference is not in the music they play -- the firsts usually playing higher notes than the seconds.

Violin

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String Instruments

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It is about 25 inches long and is pitched a fifth lower than violin.

Viola

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String Instruments

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The correct name for this instrument is in Italian a longer violin name-- but it is always called by its shortened name.

It is around 5 feet in height and is pitched one octave lower than the viola.

Cello

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String Instruments

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This instrument is sometimes called by a shortened name.

It is the largest in size (around 6.5 feet in height) and has the deepest tone (one octave below the cello) in the string family.

Double Bass

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String Instruments

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Percussion Instruments

Percussion instruments are those which are struck or shaken.

Percussion instruments can be divided into two groups. They are ‘tuned’ and ‘non-tuned’.

Tuned: Non-tuned:

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It can also be called kettle drum.

These are often used in sets of two, three, or four each tuned to a different note.

The instrument is played with two sticks.

The player can tighten or loosen the parchment with pedals for tuning.

Timpani

Percussion Instruments

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It consists of blocks of hard wood, each tuned to a note.

The player strikes the wooden blocks with wooden beaters to produce a bright, dry, hard sound.

Xylophone

Percussion Instruments

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Small metal plates are loosely inserted around the shell.

When the player hits or shakes it with his hand, the mental plates give a jingling effect.

Tambourine

Percussion Instruments

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These consist of little wooden clappers moved by the thumb and forefinger of the player.

In the orchestra, they are placed on a stick.

Castanets

Percussion Instruments

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Woodwind

Flute Oboe Clarinet Bassoon

Brass

Trumpet FrenchHorn

Trombone Tuba

Strings

Violin Viola Cello DoubleBass

Percussion

Withpitch

Withoutpitch

Timpani Xylophone Tambourine Castanets

Instruments

Orchestra

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http://www.dsokids.com/visitthesymphony/seatingchart/default.aspx