Instruments in the Orchestra
A Description of the Families of Instruments Found in Orchestras
Feb 10, 2009
Ask most people what they know about an orchestra and a variety of answers are given. Most people find orchestra music tedious and boring. Many others have an enjoyment of the music but don't totally understand the intricacies of the musicals instruments in an orchestra.
To most people the instruments all appear different with no relations between them. There are in fact 4 families of instruments in an orchestra: strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion.
Strings
The string family makes up most of the orchestra. The family is divided amongst four instruments: violins, violas, cellos, and double basses. All the instruments in this family are made of wood, have strings and are played by dragging a bow across the strings.
Violins are the largest section in the orchestra. The violins are divided as first violins and second violins. The first violins play a higher part then the second violins. Violins are played by placing the instrument under the chin while holding the neck with one hand. The other hand uses the bow.
A viola looks like a slightly larger violin. The voice of the viola is lower than that of the violin. Violas are generally the second largest section in the orchestra. Violas are played the same as violins.
Cellos are larger still. They are the third largest part of the orchestra and are played while seated. The cello has a foot which sits on the floor and the player holds the neck with one hand. The other hand uses the bow to sound the notes.
Double basses are the largest string instruments but constitute the smallest section in the strings family. They are played while standing up. The player holds the neck of the bass which is standing on a foot. The other hand uses the bow to sound the notes.
Woodwinds and Brass
Woodwinds and Brass are a families of instruments played by blowing. The two families together make up between 10 and 20 percent of the orchestra.
Woodwinds are instruments that used to be made of wood. The woodwinds in an orchestra are oboe, flute, bassoon, and clarinet. Each is represented by one or two players usually. Flutes are played by blowing air across a hole in the mouth piece while holding the instrument sideways. Oboes and Bassoons are double reeded instruments, meaning they have two reeds back to back rather than a mouthpiece. Clarinets are single reeded instruments and have a mouthpiece.
Brass are instruments that are made of metal of one type or another. They all have a similiar mouthpiece which uses pursued lips vibrating together to sound the notes. Those brass instruments in an orchestra are from largest to smallest: trumpet, French horn, trombone, and tuba. Again each is represented by one or two players.
Percussion
This family instruments includes those which are plucked or struck.
Most recognizable are the piano, bass drum, and snare drum. Other members of this family include kettle drums, harp, xylophone and triangle. Most of these instruments need a mallet or sticks to strike them in order for them to sound. The two which do not are piano, which is played by pressing keys, and harp, on which the strings are plucked to make the tones.
An orchestra is an exciting group to listen to. It can be made even more exciting when the instrumentation is explained.
