In the Instrumental music traditional, a symphony orchestra is a Orchestre of big size - generally, more than fifty Musicien S, sometimes, more than one hundred… - mainly dedicated to the works of symphonic Music since the end of the 18th century at our days.

History

The symphony orchestra considerably increased its manpower between the 18th century and the end of the 19th century with phalanges busy of less than fifty people (orchestra typically “mozartien”) to more than one hundred. The Gurre-Lieder of Schönberg claim 122 musicians typically. This inflation is due to the increasingly important role of the winds requiring a rebalancing of the cords.

The provision of each type of instruments was not always fixed: the pre-mozartien orchestra had, in the foreground, the winds with the cords laid out behind. Hector Berlioz described, in Germany, a formation with the cords on the left and the winds on the right. The current configuration (described below) date of the middle of the 19th century, but certain contemporary works requires a mixing different from the Instrumentiste S.

Composition of the orchestra

The symphony orchestra consists of four families of instruments: the cords , the wood , the coppers and the percussions . The precise composition of the orchestra depends on the work carried out.

Each family includes/understands a first Soliste (being able to be assisted by a second or a third soloist) of which the role, as its name indicates it, is to play the parts Solo of an orchestral partition, but also to direct repetitions partial of its desk. The other musicians are called tuttists .

The “First violin solo” has a hierarchical role and often represents the orchestra in front of its chief (which greets it at the time of the concerts) and in front of the public (order the rising of the musicians and accommodates the leader). It is of tradition that is him which requires it “of it” of the Hautbois (in the absence of pianist) to check the agreement of the instruments.

The provision of the various desks can vary if the orchestra is hidden (in the case of a pit of opera for example).

Rubbed cords

The cords are the most constant part of the symphony orchestra. They are divided into five Pupitre S, usually distributed in the following way, from left to right (by looking at the orchestra).

• the first Violin S, 15 approximately
• the seconds Violin S, 15 approximately
• the violas, approximately 12
• the Violoncello S, approximately 10
• the Double bass S, approximately 8

Wood

Had the cords behind, the wood are composed of whole or part of the following instruments.

• the flute “piccolo” or small flute
• 2 or 3 flutes
• 2 or 3 Oboe
• the oboe de amore (in the )
• the Cor anglais (in F )
• the Clarinet in E flat (known as “small clarinet”)
• 2 or 3 clarinets in B flat (more rarely in C )
• the clarinet in " la"
• the low clarinet
• 2 or 3 Bassoon S
• the Double bassoon

Coppers

Had wood behind, the coppers are composed of the following instruments.

• 2 or 3 trumpet S
• 4 or 6 French horns
• 4 or 5 Trombone S
• 1 Bass trombone
• 1 tuba

Percussions

The percussions are composed of the following instruments.

• the drinking cups
• the Cymbal S
• the triangle
• the drum
• the Large case
• the clear Case
• the Marimba
• the Vibraphone
• the Xylophone

Direction of the orchestra

See also: Leader, Musical director

Sociology of the orchestra

Bernard Lehmann found a higher social ascent for the cords compared to the winds for the Parisian orchestras. This gradation exists also the acutest instruments with most serious. That would be at the age of training of the instrument (earlier for the cords), with the choice of this last - volunteer for the violins (because of the prestige of the active instrument of par with the extent of the repertory), often of circumstance for the winds, and particularly for coppers resulting from municipal harmonies.

N the other hand, the winds have a proportion of Soliste S definitely more important than for the cords, primarily made up of Tutti co.s, which feels on the level individualism and wages.

Related subjects

• List of the symphony orchestras
• symphonic Philharmonic society
• Music
• Chamber music
• Instrumental music
• Organology

Reference