1. The Orchestra

2. What is an Orchestra? - A large group of musicians that includes string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. Also called a symphony orchestra or philharmonic orchestra. - Orchestra (means “a dancing place in Greek)comes from the area in front of the stage in ancient Greek drama reserved for the chorus.

3. Components of the Orchestra - An orchestra generally has 80 to 100 musicians. - A chamber orchestra is smaller, with about 40 or fewer musicians. - The conductor directs the musical performance with visible gestures, e.g. hands and facial expressions. The conductor is also called the musical director. - The concertmaster is the 1 st principle violin player. This person is second in command to the conductor. - Each instrumental section has a leader known as the principle.

4. Instrument Families Strings: Produce sound (pitch) by plucking strings with fingers or using a bow Woodwinds: Produce sound when air is blown through a reed or across an opening; pitch is modified by finger holes or keys Brass: Produce sound when the lips are buzzed and air is forced into tubes or coils; pitch is modified by lengthening or shortening air flow with valves or a slide Percussion: Produce sound by shaking, hitting or scraping.

5. Instruments of the Orchestra - Strings Violin, viola, cello, double bass, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= ueJcRmfweSM

6. Instruments of the Orchestra - Woodwinds piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon. piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon.

7. Instruments of the Orchestra - Brass Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba

8. Instruments of the Orchestra - Percussion Timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, triangle

9. What do they play? - The repertoire (collection of musical pieces) of a symphony orchestra is usually classical music or opera. - Orchestras sometimes play popular music - Symphony orchestras also commonly used to perform film scores -Score: the sheet music for a composition. It includes all parts written for each instrument

10. Orchestra Seating

11. Musical Compositions Symphony: composition for orchestra in 4 movements 1. fast, dramatic 2. lyrical, slow 3. dance – minuet or scherzo 4. brilliant/heroic, fast Concerto: musical work for solo instrument or small group & orchestra

12. Musical Compositions Concerto grosso: composition that alternates between a soloist and the orchestra Theme & Variation: composition where one theme is stated then altered in successive statements Sonata: composition in several movements for soloist or small ensemble

13. Musical Compositions Rondo: musical form with a recurring theme Cantata: Vocal genre for solo singers, chorus and instrumentalists based on a lyric or dramatic poetic narrative Oratorio: Large-scale dramatic piece, based on a text of religious or serious character, performed by solo voices, chorus and orchestra; similar to opera but without scenery, costumes or action. Fugue: composition where the theme is imitated and overlaps