The
presents
the Introductory Guide to the Orchestra
Design: Marie-Claude CodsiIllustrations: Mathilde Filippi
The Introductory Guide to the Orchestra
The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
A Short History of Orchestral Music
The Instruments of the Orchestra
The Conductor and the Score
The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
All about the OSM
History of the OSM
What is an orchestra?
The OSM chorus
The OSM around the world
The Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique
The Maison symphonique de Montréal
How does it sound?
The Orchestra
What is an Orchestra ?
The word orchestra comes from the Greek orkhêstra, which designates a space within a theatre between the stage and the audience, where you would have found the chorus in an ancient Greek tragedy.
Did you know?
The Orchestra
As its name suggests, the symphony orchestra performs symphonic works from the classical repertoire.
Today, the word orchestra refers to a group of at least 12 musicians who play their instruments together, regardless of the location.
Other types of orchestras!
There are other types of orchestras, such as jazz orchestras, wind orchestras (also called concert bands), and folk music orchestras.
The audition processs
The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
Did you know?
Conductors
Montreal has had its own orchestra since 1934! That means that the OSM has been giving concerts and playing the most beautiful works from the classical repertoire for over 90 years.
Over the course of many years, the OSM became an important part of cultural life in the city. Today it has 90 to 100 musicians (the number varies according to the music being played), selected from amongst the very best players from Quebec, Canada and North America.
The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal at one of its very first concerts in 1935!
History of the
The OSM’s excellence and vision have been fashioned over the years by its music directors, including Montreal-born Wilfrid Pelletier, Zubin Mehta, Kent Nagano, and Rafael Payare since 2022. Here are some of the defining milestones from the orchestra’s first two decades:
1940
1954
1962
1934
1935
2014
1981
2011
2024
2016
Concert program of the OSM’s first concert
The Maison symphonique
The OSM’s home is the Maison symphonique, which was inaugurated on September 7, 2011, with a concert conducted by Kent Nagano. The hall has several unique features that make it one of a kind.
Visit the Maison symphonique virtually here!
The Around the World
When the OSM is not performing at the Maison symphonique, it is probably either in a park during the summer season, or on tour in another city in Quebec, in Canada or around the world!
Discover images from the OSM’s latest tours!
Did you know?
How to tune the organ
The Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique
Visit of the Organ
with Jean-Willy Kunz
In 2014 a new instrument made its appearance at the OSM in the Maison symphonique: The Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique. This organ has no less than 6489 pipes and weighs some 35 tons. It was generously offered as a gift to the OSM by Jacqueline Desmarais.
This impressive instrument was made here, in Quebec, by the organ maker: Casavant Frères.
It bears the name of the OSM’s founder and first Director General: Mr. Pierre Béique
Did you know?
The OSM Chorus
The
Chorus
For certain concerts, a choir may be added to the orchestra. A choir is a group made up of men, women, or even children, who all sing together. The singers in the choir are called choristers.
In some works, a choir with as many as 120 singers can be added to the orchestra. When there are fewer singers, the choir is sometimes placed on the stage with the orchestra. But when bigger choirs are needed, the choristers take their place in the seats situated behind the orchestra (this section is called “the choir”), near the organ.
The OSM Chorus was founded in the 1980s.
The 4 instruments
Families
The orchestra is divided into four categories or families of instruments, each with its own characteristics.
The Percussions
The Woodwinds
The Brass Instruments
The Strings
The map of
musical instruments
Click here to show the different instruments families
The map of
musical instruments
Observe how the instruments are placed on the stage. Click on each group of instruments to discover its name and how it sounds.
Conductor's Podium
The Great String Family
In the great string family, the instruments are classified according to several sub-families based on the way they are played.
The plucked strings with the harp
The plucked strings with the piano
The bowed strings
The bowed string instruments are:
The octobass
The violin
The viola
Thecello
The Double bass
Did you know?
Stradivarius
The Bowed Strings
Octobass
The bowed string instruments come in various sizes.
Double bass
All made of wood, they each have four strings — except for the octobass, which has only three!
Cello
Viola
Violin
The smaller the instrument, the thinner and shorter the strings. The larger the instrument, the thicker and longer the strings!
The Violin
The violin is the smallest instrument of the string family, and the one with the highest sounding notes. They usually play melodies, whose rhythms are sometimes very complex.
In an orchestra, the violins are divided into two sections; the first and the second violins. Composers usually write a different musical part for each of these two sections.Violinists usually play sitting down, holding their instrument between their shoulder and chin, but they can also play standing up!
The role of theConcertmaster
Concertmaster
Andrew Wan
in action
In the 16th century, the concertmaster acted both as a musician and as a conductor. Today, their primary role is to serve as a link between the conductor and the orchestra musicians, particularly the strings and the first violins. The concertmaster is, in a way, the conductor's "right hand."
Did you know?
Sheet music
The concertmaster also plays the parts of a piece that are meant to be performed by a single violinist, for "solo violin," solo meaning "alone" in Italian.
Andrew Wan is the OSM's concertmaster.
The Viola
The viola is slightly bigger than the violin, is held in the same way, and can play notes that are slightly lower.
In the orchestra, the violas often have the role of supporting the melody played by the violins. The viola section thus adds depth to the melodies and completes the harmonies. That said, some composers do occasionally use it as a solo instrument!
Compare the sound of the violin to the sound of the viola. Do you notice any differences?
Viola
Violin
Victor Fournelle-Blain is principal viola, head of the OSM's viola section.
Did you know?
Cello
The Cello
The cello is much bigger than the viola - so big that it would be impossible to hold it between the shoulder and the chin! The cellist plays in a seated position and leans the instrument against their body. The cello has a metal pole called a spike. As the name suggests, this pole spikes into the ground to support the instrument.
It is often said that the cello has a tone closest to the human voice. A cello solo can stir deep emotions, so striking are its vibrations!
Brian Manker is principal cello, head of the OSM's cello section.
The Double Bass
The double bass is even bigger than the cello (about 2 meters). That’s why double bass players have to sit on a high stool to play or remain standing!
With a lower range than the cello, the double bass provides the rhythmic and harmonic foundation of the string family.
Ali Kian Yazdanfar is principal double bass, head of the OSM's double bass' section.
How does it sound?
The Octobass
Did you know?
Octobass
That’s not all! The OSM is very lucky to have a fifth bowed string instrument. It’s much rarer and much bigger than the double bass… it is over three meters high! It’s called an octobass. This imposing instrument is used in certain concerts only! The musician has to climb onto a small step stool to reach the fingerboard and change the notes using mechanical fingers (not their hands).
The octobass has the lowest and deepest tone in its family. This imposing instrument is used only for certain concerts.
Eric Chappell plays the double bass, but he is also principal octobass, head of the octobass section.
Did you know?
The harp
The Plucked Strings: The Harp
In the symphony orchestra the harp is the most valuable of all the plucked string instruments! Even though it is an ancient instrument, it never appeared in orchestras before the 19th century. To play it, the musician leans the instrument against their right shoulder and plucks the strings with all their fingers except the thumb.
Listen to the unique sonority of the harp in this excerpt of the famous ballet : The Nutcracker
Jennifer Swartz is the OSM's principal harpist.
How does it sound?
The struck strings : The Piano
Did you know?
How the piano works
Both a percussion and a string instrument, the piano produces sounds thanks to small felt-covered hammers that strike metal strings. With its 88 black and white keys, it has the widest range of any instrument in the orchestra!
The piano is not always present in the orchestra, and few symphonic works include a part written for it... It was only integrated into this type of musical ensemble toward the end of the 19th century!
Olga Gross is the OSM's principal pianist. She also plays the celesta at times.
Did you know?
Saxophone
The Woodwinds
The instruments most commonly used in the woodwind family are the flute, the clarinet, the oboe, and the bassoon.
The Woodwinds
How is the sound produced?
The Flute
The bassoon and the contrabassoon
The Oboe and the English Horn
Theclarinet
The Woodwinds
The woodwinds instrument family (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and saxophone) has the most members in the orchestra next to the strings. Just like the string instruments, they are made of wood, but their shape is different: They are hollow, thin and fairly long, like pipes!
How is the sound produced?
The openings on the oboe, the bassoon and the clarinet are fitted with small pieces of wood called “reeds” that the players vibrate with their lips. There are single reeds and double reeds, depending on the instrument. As for the flute, it does not have a reed, but a little hole (embouchure) over which the flutist blows air to produce a sound.
To play the notes, you press on round flat keys that cover holes. Each note has its own fingering, and the more holes you cover, the lower the sound!
Did you know
Flute
The Flute
In the 17th century the modern flute replaced the recorder in the orchestra. They are made of silver, gold or platinum, and they have a range of about three octaves. The smallest version of the flute - the piccolo - is twice as short as the flute.
Flute
Piccolo
The flute is sometimes called the “transverse flute.” The word transverse describes the horizontal position of the instrument across the players face and to the right. It’s as if the player’s mouth and face are being “traversed” by the instrument!
Timothy Hutchins is principal flute, head of the OSM's flute section.
The Clarinet
In an orchestra you will find three types of clarinets: the E-flat clarinet, with a high sound, the B-flat clarinet, which is more common, and the bass clarinet, with a very low sound, and much bigger than the B-flat! All three types are made of ebony: a very rare type of wood that grows naturally in southern Africa. It gives them their rich sound.
Clarinets joined the orchestra around the time of Mozart, in the 18th century. They have a broad ranges of notes: more than 4 octaves. Their sound are quite soft and round.
Todd Cope is principal clarinet, head of the OSM's clarinet section
Did you know?
Tuning
The oboe and English Horn
The timbre of the oboe and its cousin the English horn have a characteristic in common: they sound rather nasal! In fact, that’s why the oboe was chosen by Sergei Prokofiev to portray the duck in his famous story of Peter and the Wolf. But, when these instruments are played solo, they can surprise listeners with beautiful soft melodies. Even though their timbres are similar, the sounds produced by the English horn are lower than those of the oboe, because the instrument is longer.
Notice the difference between the sonority of the oboe and the English horn by listening to these two excerpts.
Alex Liedtke is principal oboe, head of the OSM's oboe section.
The bassoon and contrabassoon
The bassoon is a long tube, folded over on itself (2.5 meters) made of maple or of rosewood. The deep sounds of the bassoon and its big brother the contrabassoon are produced by blowing into a double reed fixed to a metallic tube: the crook. The sound then travels along a U-shaped tube.A bassoonist holds their instrument leaning to one side over their right hip.
Stéphane Lévesque is principal bassoon, head of the OSM's bassoon section.
The Brass Instruments
The instruments in the brass family are the horn, the trumpet, the trombone, and the tuba.
The trumpet
The Brass Instruments
The horn
The tuba
The trombone
Did you know?
Harmonics
The Brass Instruments
There are fewer brass instruments than woodwinds and strings, but they do not lack for sound! We call them brass instruments (trumpet, trombone, tuba and horn) because they are made of different types of metal alloys, including brass, a flexible and brilliant metal.
It was the invention of valves in 1814 that allowed the trumpet to play notes with great precision!
The Trumpet
The trumpet has the highest sound in its family. It is a 1.5-meter-long cylindrical metal tube (made of brass) coiled up and ending in a mouthpiece on one side and a bell on the other. To play it, the trumpeter blows into the mouthpiece combined with the action of several valves and the vibration of their lips. They can play many different notes while keeping the same fingering, by changing the speed of air they blow and the vibration of their lips!
Valves
Mouthpiece
Bell
Paul Merkelo is principal trumpet, head of the OSM's trumpet section.
Did you know?
Horn
The Horn
Easily recognizable by its circular shape, the name of the horn comes from the animal horns used to make the earliest versions. The horn has a warm sound. It is equipped with a mouthpiece, rotary valves (which allow the notes to be changed), a large bell, and several meters of coiled and folded metal tubing. To play it, the horn player places their right hand inside the bell and their left hand on the valves.
Mouthpiece
Rotary valves
The bell
Catherine Turner is principal horn, head ot the OSM's horn section.
Did you know?
Trombone
The Trombone
With this instrument, there’s no longer a need for pistons and valves! Having tubing nearly 4 meters long, it is the only brass instrument to use a slide. In fact, the slide allows the player to change the pitch of the notes and produce a wide variety of sound effects! It was the trombone’s flexibility that allowed it to join the orchestra in the 19th century.
Slide
James Box is trombone solo, head of the OSM's trombone section.
Did you know?
Tuba
The Tuba
It’s the lowest instrument in the brass family. It’s also the one that needs the most air. To shorten or lengthen the distance the air has to travel between the mouthpiece and the bell, the tubist can use up to 6 valves.
In addition to playing the bass line in a piece, the tuba can also carry sustained melodies in the low register. The depth of the sounds produced by this instrument can give certain passages a tone that is either comical or mournful!
The tuba consists of a tube 5.5 to 6 meters long that coils around itself!
Austin Howle is the OSM's principal tubist.
The percussions
The percussion family includes many instruments.
The percussion family
Fun facts about percussion
In order to differentiate between all the different percussion instruments, they are divided into two large families :
Pitched percussions
Unpitched percussions
Percussions
As a percussionist, you need to know how to play several different instruments. Discover the secrets of the percussion family with Hugues Tremblay!
Serge Desgagné is the OSM's principal percussion, head of the percussion section.
Andrei Malashenko is principal timpani, head of the timpani section.
Did you know?
The traditionals
Percussions
Did you know?
The membranophones
The percussion family groups together many instruments that are quite different from one another. To play them, percussionists strike them, shake them, or even scratch them. Some percussion instruments are made of metal, wood, or even skin (membrane) stretched over a wooden frame.
Did you know?
The idiophones
Did you know?
The peculiars
At the beginning of the 20th century, increased globalization allowed unpitched percussion instruments like the tam-tam from Asia and pitched percussion instruments like the xylophone, the glockenspiel and marimba, inspired by African instruments, to take their place in the orchestra.
Did you know?
The OSM Bells
Pitched Percussions
We recognize pitched percussion instruments by paying attention to the sounds they produce! In fact, you’ll notice that tubular bells, timpani, glockenspiel, marimba, xylophone, and vibraphone—all pitched percussion instruments—produce notes that can also be played on a piano. These percussion instruments are often used to play melodies, as you can hear here!
Unpitched Percussions
Snare drum, cymbals, bass drum and tambourine: what do all these instruments have in common? They are all unpitched percussion instruments!
Unpitched sounds are those that could not be reproduced on a piano, like the sound of snapping fingers, for example. These percussion instruments are often used to create rhythms.
A brief history of Symphonic Music
From royal courts to the Maison symphonique de Montréal
In Europe, up to the end of the 15th century, the purpose of music was for entertainment and dancing at royal courts. Musicians either came from noble families, or worked in their service.
Since the 17th century, developments in instrument manufacturing, music theory, the evolution of musical genres and social transformations led to the emergence of many new forms of orchestral music.
From the Baroque Erato contemporary creations and everything in between, the structure of orchestral instrumentation has never stopped evolving in order to serve the needs of composers, musicians and the public.
Contemporary Era 1950-today
Romantic Era 1825-1900
Classical Era 1750-1825
Modern Era 1900-1950
Baroque Era 1607-1750
Baroque Era
1600-1750
Musicians composed and performed for the nobility or the Church, in orchestras varying from 10 to 60 instruments. It was a productive time for the advancement of music theory: the development of major and minor modes and of fundamental classical harmony. It was also a time when new instruments were designed, with the viol and harpsichord being most commonly played. The Baroque era ended in 1750, with the death of J.S. Bach.
“Luthier’s workshop”
from the 1750s, from
the Encyclopedia
of Diderot and
d’Alembert
Frederick the Great
Playing the Flute
at Sanssouci, by
Adolph von Menzel
J.S. Bach
(1685-1750)
The Well-Tempered Clavier, vol. I and II
Antonio Vivaldi
(1678-1741)
The Four Seasons
Georg Friedrich Handel
(1685-1759)
The Messiah
Classical Era
1750-1825
This was the symphony’s golden age. Haydn alone composed 104 of them! The novelty in this period was doubling the number of wind instruments in orchestral scores. The orchestra now needed a conductor to lead up to 80 musicians! Composers would often conduct their works. The first public concerts were hugely popular!
Joseph Haydn
(1732-1809)
Symphony no. 82 in C major,
“The Bear”
Ludwig van Beethoven
(1770-1826)
Symphony n°1
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756-1791)
Symphony no.41, “Jupiter”
Ludwig van Beethoven
conducting the orchestra,
by Michel Katzaroff
Romantic Era
1825-1900
Music truly became an art form. Many large concert halls and opera houses were built. The orchestra grew to include up to 100 musicians! Composers were far more independent, daring to write pieces that might shock audiences, like Beethoven who included a chorus of voices in the last movement of his 9th Symphony! An absolute scandal!
Hector Berlioz
(1803-1869)
Symphonie fantastique
Piotr Ilitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
The Nutcracker
Johannes Brahms
(1833-1897)
Hungarian Dances
Robert Schumann
(1810-1856)
Concerto for Piano and
Orchestra in A minor
Concert given by Hector Berlioz at the Cirque des Champs Élysées (1845)
Modern Era
1900-1950
The turn of the 20th century was also crucial for composers. Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Igor Stravinsky broke the rules of composition, exploring new sounds and approaches to play instruments. John Cage’s concept of a “prepared piano” is one salient example of innovation.
Béla Bartók
(1881–1945)
Music for Strings,
Percussion and Celesta
George Gershwin
(1898-1937)
Concerto for piano in F major
Claude Debussy
(1862-1918)
La mer
John Cage (1912-1992) and the “prepared piano”
Igor Stravinsky
(1882-1971)
The Rite of Spring
Contemporary Era
1950-today
After the Second World War, composers pushed boundaries even further. All methods and traditions were challenged and there was talk of “new music.” Musicians worked like scientists in laboratories. With the development of electronics, they experimented with new sounds and sound processing.
Arnold Schoenberg
(1874-1951)
Kammersymphonie n° 2,
in E-flat minor
Maxime Goulet (born in1980) Chocolats symphoniques
György Ligeti
(1923- 2006) Symphonic poem for
100 metronomes
Pierre Schaeffer (1910-1995) in his laboratory
Abigail Richardson
(born in 1976)
Step Up: Sesquie for Canada 150
The Conductor
Why a conductor?
The role of the conductor
What is conducting?
TheScore
Dynamics and tempi
Watch Rafael Payare conducting a short excerpt during the OSM’s Virée Classique. Credit: André Robitaille.
Video
Being a Conductor
The Conductor
The conductor stands in front of the musicians, facing away from the audience.
Did you know
Entrance onto the stage
One of their tasks is to indicate to the musicians when to start and stop playing, when to play louder or softer (dynamics), and when to go faster or slower (tempo). Through all their gestures and facial expressions, the conductor conveys to the musicians all the emotions contained in the music!
For a long time conductors were almost always men. But these days, more and more women are taking on the role of conductor!
In Quebec, like many other parts of the world, women conductors are seen leading the greatest orchestras. In France there is even a conducting competition exclusively for women!
Rafael Payare, Music Director of the OSM
Why a conductor?
Video
A Conductor’s Gestures!
In the era of the first orchestras, there were far fewer musicians, sometimes only a dozen or so. As such, it was not that hard for the musicians to play together. Often the first violinist would signal to the other musicians when to start playing and when to stop.
The conductor is not necessarily a specialist in any one instrument. He or she must have a strong knowledge of each of the sections. Actually, we could say that the orchestra is the conductor’s instrument.
But with time, orchestras became larger and larger, and the music they played more and more complex. Eventually it was necessary to assign the task of leading the orchestra to a single person who was not playing one of the instruments.
It is with a precise gesture that the conductor communicates with the musicians in concerts and rehearsals. Like learning to play an instrument, this particular gesture require many hours of practice and refinement.
Great composers of the past often conducted their own works. After all, they knew better than anyone else how their own music should be played. But with time, the composers were no longer there to conduct their music, and so a separate conductor needed to take on the job.
Video
A robot conducting
What is conducting?
Did you know?
The baton
Of course it involves communicating to the musicians when to start and stop, when to play louder or softer (dynamics), faster or slower (tempo). But, it also involves deciding the general intention and colour to give to the music. For example, we can tell when we listen to the same piece of music conducted by different conductors that each person brings their own energy and vision to the work in question.
There are hundreds of interpretations of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, with its famous first measures. Each version bears the distinctive imprint of the conductor who performed it.
Listening game
Note here the full intensity with which Rafael Payare conducts the OSM!
The Score
Have a look at the first pages of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. There are so many things taking place at the same time!
The big book placed on the stand in front of the conductor on stage is called the score. It contains all the notes played by all the musicians, as well as all the expressive indications given by the composer (tempo, dynamics, etc.)
As you can see in the score to the right, the instruments are indicated from the top to the bottom: The woodwinds, the brass and the percussion. Then come the choristers, also divided into sections according to their voice type, from highest to lowest (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), and finally the strings. We also see tempo indications: presto, which means that the tempo is very fast, and dynamics: ff, which means fortissimo, or very loud in English.
You can listen to the first movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony n°9 in this excerpt.
Did you know? Tempo (video in French only)
Dynamics and tempi
Did you know? Dynamics (video in French only)
Italy was central in the development of music in Europe since the time of the Renaissance. It was at this time that Italian terms started to be used across Europe to indicate dynamics and tempi (tempo becomes tempi in the plural) in a score.
The dynamics, from the softest to the loudest:
However, some composers preferred to write their indications for tempo and expressivity in their own languages (in German, in French, and even in Russian!). Nonetheless, Italian has never lost its primary place as the language of choice for musical indications.
Tempi, from the slowest to the fastest in BPM (beat per minute):
40-60
52-68
112-160
60-80
88-112
76-100
140-200
~ 140
100-128
> 188
Did you know...
The OSM Chorus was founded in the 1980s at the request of the Music Director at the time, Charles Dutoit. Made up of 50 professional singers, and from 80 to 100 volunteer singers, the Chorus joins the OSM regularly to perform the great masterpieces of the repertoire.
The OSM: A Rich History
In May 1962, the OSM embarked on its first tour, marking the first European tour by a Canadian orchestra. The ensemble achieved resounding success with celebrated performances in Moscow, Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Kyiv, Vienna, and Paris, conducted by Zubin Mehta and Jacques Beaudry.
Did you know...
The OSM is led by conductors who come from all around the world. Together, they perform concerts all year long.
Did you know...
The modern conductor’s baton is a tapered stick of varying length, usually white in colour (so that it is easier for the musicians to see) with a pointed end and a bulbous cork base. This tool for leading an orchestra did not always look the way it does today! In the Baroque period, leading the ensemble was a task taken on by the harpsichord player. Over the course of the 18th century, the job fell to the first violin, who would gesture with their bow when they were not playing. It wasn’t until the era of Beethoven (1770-1827) that the modern baton made its appearance – much more manageable and lightweight than a bow!
Did you know?
Besides the flute, there is another exception in the woodwind family! It’s an instrument that we don’t often find in concert music: the saxophone. Since it is made of metal, it might seem to belong to the brass family. But, the saxophone is a reed instrument, just like the clarinet. Therefore, the saxophone belongs to the woodwind family. At the OSM, André Moisan plays the saxophone occasionally, but most of the time, he plays the bass clarinet!
Did you know...
The ancestor of the trombone was called the sackbut!
With its prominent position in the hall, the Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique takes full advantage of the exceptional acoustics. This incredible instrument boasts 109 stops, 83 ranks, and 6,489 pipes to create its rich, powerful sound.
Did you know...
The tuba is a recent instrument, having been invented in 1835 by Wilhelm Wieprecht and Johann Moritz.
The OSM In europe - 2024
During its 59th tour, the OSM shone in eight of the most prestigious concert halls in Europe, performing in London, Luxembourg, Paris, Hamburg, Berlin, Amsterdam, Munich, and Vienna.
The OSM: A Rich History
The construction of the Maison symphonique de Montréal, home of the OSM, was completed in 2011. The hall was inaugurated in September 2011 with a concert by the OSM under the direction of Kent Nagano.
Did you know...
Although they come in many different shapes and sizes, the instruments from the brass family all have one thing in common: thanks to their embouchure, they can play many different notes all while maintaining the same fingering!
All you have to do is change the speed of the air and the vibration of the lips while blowing into the instrument to produce notes that we call “harmonics” that are naturally present in the fundamental sound.
The OSM: A Rich History
The OSM released its very first CD in 1981, conducted by Charles Dutoit, featuring Ravel’s music: Daphnis et Chloé.
The hall has movable ceiling panels to change the room’s shape and sound, making it easy to adapt the acoustics to any event or musical style. For example, the reverberation levels can be adjusted to create an intimate atmosphere for a small concert, or a grand one for a symphony.
Did you know...
Sometimes, horn players place their right hand inside the bell of the instrument while playing to adjust the pitch of a note or to change the tone quality (for a more nasal sound).
All potential noise sources in the building—like the heating systems, elevators, and even the restrooms—were specially designed to prevent sound propagation and ensure a quiet environment.
How to tune the organ?
The pipes of an organ are tuned so that the entire instrument produces a balanced and coherent sound, without any wrong notes. By slightly adjusting the length of the pipe using a tuning device, its frequency is modified to match the desired pitch. The metal and wood used to make the pipes react to changes in temperature and humidity, so the organ must be regularly retuned to maintain its sound quality.
Listen to the solo pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin performing Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin with the OSM.
A robot conducting
In 2017, a humanoid robot named YuMi conducted several pieces during a concert in Italy.
United States - 2023
From March 6 to 8, 2023, the OSM traveled to the United States for a series of concerts, starting in Washington and concluding at the renowned Carnegie Hall in New York, under the direction of Rafael Payare.
Did you know...
The strings of the cello were once made from sheep intestines! Many cellists who play Baroque music (1600–1750) still use strings made from sheep intestines today. However, most musicians now use steel strings.
Tuning
Just before the beginning of the concert, once all the musicians have taken their places on stage, the concertmaster makes their entrance. It is the signal that the orchestra will start tuning!
The oboe will play the note A, in order for all the musicians to adjust their instruments according to that note. But, not everyone tunes at the same time! First come the wind instruments, and then the string instruments.
When everyone is ready, the conductor makes their entrance on stage, usually greeted by applause from the public.
Then, the concert starts.
The OSM in Krakow and Salzburg - 2018
Kent Nagano and the OSM opened the Salzburg Festival in 2018. It was the orchestra’s fifth visit to Austria. The OSM is the first Canadian orchestra in history to be invited to perform at the Salzburg Festival.
Stradivarius
Have you ever heard of Stradivarius? It was the name of a luthier, also known as a stringed instrument maker. He lived three centuries ago, between 1645 and 1737, and many of the violins that he made are still used today by the greatest violinist in the world. They have an exceptional sound quality.
This is an illustration of the luthier Antonio Stradivarius in his workshop, deep in thought!
The OSM Carillon Bells
The OSM is the proud owner of ten carillon bells, custom-made for the orchestra by the Royal Eijsbouts Foundry in the Netherlands! Until their acquisition, the Orchestra had to substitute tubular bells.
Similar to those found in church bell towers, carillon bells lack a clapper—the metal piece that swings back and forth to make them ring. They are designed to produce precise pitches.
The carillon bells are placed on a special stand, and the percussionist strikes them using metal mallets of varying hardness. The ten bells are made of bronze, consisting of 20% tin and 80% copper.
The OSM: A Rich History
As early as November 1935, the OSM began engaging with children through the creation of Youth Matinees — an innovation for the time that was later adopted by the New York Philharmonic and remains a tradition at the OSM to this day.
NoRthern Quebec Tour - 2018
The OSM and Kent Nagano went on an eleven-day tour of Northern Quebec and Nunavik. The Orchestra and its conductor performed Chaakapesh, the Trickster's Quest for audiences in six Indigenous communities..
The Americas Tour - 2019
In October 2019, the OSM went on tour in Latin America. The program included stops in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Santiago in Chile, Buenos Aires in Argentina, and, of course, Mexico.
Écoute le début de chacune de ces versions de la Symphonie n°5 de Beethoven en portant attention à la gestuelle, aux nuances et au tempo. Remarques-tu des différences ? Amuse-toi à les noter pour ensuite les comparer !
Jeu d'écoute!
Did you know...
Most major cities in the world have their own orchestra! Certain cities even have more than one!
The OSM: A Rich History
In 1954, the Société des concerts symphoniques de Montréal was renamed the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) —the name it proudly bears to this day.
The OSM: A Rich History
Inauguration of the Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique, made possible thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Jacqueline Desmarais. This organ has 6,489 pipes.
Did you know...
The harp has 47 strings and 7 pedals that are used to modify the pitch of the strings. The pedals modify the pitch of the notes played. There is one pedal for each note (C, D, E, F, G, A, B).
Savais-tu que...
Avant de commencer les répétitions d’une œuvre, la ou le violon solo indique les coups d’archet dans la partition avec des symboles. Tous·tes les violonistes doivent ensuite suivre ces indications afin que les archets bougent en même temps et dans la même direction.
The OSM: A Rich History
Creation of the El Sistema OSM program, an initiative by Rafael Payare. The program is aimed at youth aged 6 to 16 in Montréal-Nord and offers participants the opportunity to learn to play an orchestral instrument through after-school sessions.
The OSM: A Rich History
On November 16, 1934, Provincial Secretary of Quebec Athanase David announced the creation of the Société des concerts symphoniques de Montréal (CSM), an orchestra serving the province’s French-Canadian public.
70% of the hall’s surfaces are covered in beechwood, chosen for its excellent acoustic properties. The way the wood is polished is designed to control how the sound travels.
The octobass is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, so big that its notes are on the very edge of what the human ear can perceive. Standing 3.6 metres tall and weighing 290 pounds, it requires the musician to use a small step stool and a system of levers and pedals (or a keyboard, depending on the instrument) to play it. The OSM is the only orchestra in the world that owns three of these rare instruments.
The OSM: A Rich History
The La musique aux enfants program, an initiative by Kent Nagano, was launched in 2016. Thanks to this program, around 200 children aged 4–5 from Saint-Rémi school in Montréal-Nord receive daily music education.
The audition process
To become a musician with the OSM, you have to go through an audition process. Discover the behind-the-scenes of this process (in French only).
Did you know...
For orchestras there are two principal ways for the musicians to enter the stage before the concert: “à l’Américaine,” and “à l’Européenne.”
In the American way, the musicians are free to enter the stage and take their place whenever they like. They can warm up at their own pace until all the musicians have made their entrance.
In the European style, it is much more formal: All the musicians make their entrance at the same time, and sometimes they even take their seats together!
The OSM: A Rich History
In 1940, the Prix Archambault was established in honour of its patron, Edmond Archambault. This award later evolved into the OSM Competition, which remains the most prestigious national performance competition in Canada.
Did you know...
There are fewer than 10 octobasses in the world! The OSM is very lucky to have access to 3 octobasses.
Did you know...
The flute is not made of wood, but of metal, and sometimes even of silver or gold! But, why then does it belong to the woodwind family? Well, it is simply because its ancestors were made of wood, such as seen in this picture with this traverso! With time, the wooden instruments were replaced with metal ones, which is what gives the flute its brilliant sound.
The OSM in South Korea - 2022
From July 5 to 8, 2022, the OSM went on tour across South Korea. It was the orchestra’s first international tour under the direction of Rafael Payare.
To ensure perfect acoustics, the hall is encased in a structural shell that insulates it from all outside noise and vibrations. Its pillars rest on cushions, and 175 sound-insulating pads line the hall.
a conductor’s gestures!
Watch this video in which the American conductor Leonard Bernstein leads the final movement of a Haydn symphony... using only his face!
How does it sound?
Listen here to an excerpt of the OSM's youth concert Robin Hood to discover what an orchestra sounds like.
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Orchestre Montréal
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Transcript
The
presents
the Introductory Guide to the Orchestra
Design: Marie-Claude CodsiIllustrations: Mathilde Filippi
The Introductory Guide to the Orchestra
The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
A Short History of Orchestral Music
The Instruments of the Orchestra
The Conductor and the Score
The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
All about the OSM
History of the OSM
What is an orchestra?
The OSM chorus
The OSM around the world
The Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique
The Maison symphonique de Montréal
How does it sound?
The Orchestra
What is an Orchestra ?
The word orchestra comes from the Greek orkhêstra, which designates a space within a theatre between the stage and the audience, where you would have found the chorus in an ancient Greek tragedy.
Did you know?
The Orchestra
As its name suggests, the symphony orchestra performs symphonic works from the classical repertoire.
Today, the word orchestra refers to a group of at least 12 musicians who play their instruments together, regardless of the location.
Other types of orchestras!
There are other types of orchestras, such as jazz orchestras, wind orchestras (also called concert bands), and folk music orchestras.
The audition processs
The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
Did you know?
Conductors
Montreal has had its own orchestra since 1934! That means that the OSM has been giving concerts and playing the most beautiful works from the classical repertoire for over 90 years.
Over the course of many years, the OSM became an important part of cultural life in the city. Today it has 90 to 100 musicians (the number varies according to the music being played), selected from amongst the very best players from Quebec, Canada and North America.
The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal at one of its very first concerts in 1935!
History of the
The OSM’s excellence and vision have been fashioned over the years by its music directors, including Montreal-born Wilfrid Pelletier, Zubin Mehta, Kent Nagano, and Rafael Payare since 2022. Here are some of the defining milestones from the orchestra’s first two decades:
1940
1954
1962
1934
1935
2014
1981
2011
2024
2016
Concert program of the OSM’s first concert
The Maison symphonique
The OSM’s home is the Maison symphonique, which was inaugurated on September 7, 2011, with a concert conducted by Kent Nagano. The hall has several unique features that make it one of a kind.
Visit the Maison symphonique virtually here!
The Around the World
When the OSM is not performing at the Maison symphonique, it is probably either in a park during the summer season, or on tour in another city in Quebec, in Canada or around the world!
Discover images from the OSM’s latest tours!
Did you know?
How to tune the organ
The Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique
Visit of the Organ
with Jean-Willy Kunz
In 2014 a new instrument made its appearance at the OSM in the Maison symphonique: The Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique. This organ has no less than 6489 pipes and weighs some 35 tons. It was generously offered as a gift to the OSM by Jacqueline Desmarais.
This impressive instrument was made here, in Quebec, by the organ maker: Casavant Frères.
It bears the name of the OSM’s founder and first Director General: Mr. Pierre Béique
Did you know?
The OSM Chorus
The
Chorus
For certain concerts, a choir may be added to the orchestra. A choir is a group made up of men, women, or even children, who all sing together. The singers in the choir are called choristers.
In some works, a choir with as many as 120 singers can be added to the orchestra. When there are fewer singers, the choir is sometimes placed on the stage with the orchestra. But when bigger choirs are needed, the choristers take their place in the seats situated behind the orchestra (this section is called “the choir”), near the organ.
The OSM Chorus was founded in the 1980s.
The 4 instruments
Families
The orchestra is divided into four categories or families of instruments, each with its own characteristics.
The Percussions
The Woodwinds
The Brass Instruments
The Strings
The map of
musical instruments
Click here to show the different instruments families
The map of
musical instruments
Observe how the instruments are placed on the stage. Click on each group of instruments to discover its name and how it sounds.
Conductor's Podium
The Great String Family
In the great string family, the instruments are classified according to several sub-families based on the way they are played.
The plucked strings with the harp
The plucked strings with the piano
The bowed strings
The bowed string instruments are:
The octobass
The violin
The viola
Thecello
The Double bass
Did you know?
Stradivarius
The Bowed Strings
Octobass
The bowed string instruments come in various sizes.
Double bass
All made of wood, they each have four strings — except for the octobass, which has only three!
Cello
Viola
Violin
The smaller the instrument, the thinner and shorter the strings. The larger the instrument, the thicker and longer the strings!
The Violin
The violin is the smallest instrument of the string family, and the one with the highest sounding notes. They usually play melodies, whose rhythms are sometimes very complex.
In an orchestra, the violins are divided into two sections; the first and the second violins. Composers usually write a different musical part for each of these two sections.Violinists usually play sitting down, holding their instrument between their shoulder and chin, but they can also play standing up!
The role of theConcertmaster
Concertmaster
Andrew Wan
in action
In the 16th century, the concertmaster acted both as a musician and as a conductor. Today, their primary role is to serve as a link between the conductor and the orchestra musicians, particularly the strings and the first violins. The concertmaster is, in a way, the conductor's "right hand."
Did you know?
Sheet music
The concertmaster also plays the parts of a piece that are meant to be performed by a single violinist, for "solo violin," solo meaning "alone" in Italian.
Andrew Wan is the OSM's concertmaster.
The Viola
The viola is slightly bigger than the violin, is held in the same way, and can play notes that are slightly lower.
In the orchestra, the violas often have the role of supporting the melody played by the violins. The viola section thus adds depth to the melodies and completes the harmonies. That said, some composers do occasionally use it as a solo instrument!
Compare the sound of the violin to the sound of the viola. Do you notice any differences?
Viola
Violin
Victor Fournelle-Blain is principal viola, head of the OSM's viola section.
Did you know?
Cello
The Cello
The cello is much bigger than the viola - so big that it would be impossible to hold it between the shoulder and the chin! The cellist plays in a seated position and leans the instrument against their body. The cello has a metal pole called a spike. As the name suggests, this pole spikes into the ground to support the instrument.
It is often said that the cello has a tone closest to the human voice. A cello solo can stir deep emotions, so striking are its vibrations!
Brian Manker is principal cello, head of the OSM's cello section.
The Double Bass
The double bass is even bigger than the cello (about 2 meters). That’s why double bass players have to sit on a high stool to play or remain standing!
With a lower range than the cello, the double bass provides the rhythmic and harmonic foundation of the string family.
Ali Kian Yazdanfar is principal double bass, head of the OSM's double bass' section.
How does it sound?
The Octobass
Did you know?
Octobass
That’s not all! The OSM is very lucky to have a fifth bowed string instrument. It’s much rarer and much bigger than the double bass… it is over three meters high! It’s called an octobass. This imposing instrument is used in certain concerts only! The musician has to climb onto a small step stool to reach the fingerboard and change the notes using mechanical fingers (not their hands).
The octobass has the lowest and deepest tone in its family. This imposing instrument is used only for certain concerts.
Eric Chappell plays the double bass, but he is also principal octobass, head of the octobass section.
Did you know?
The harp
The Plucked Strings: The Harp
In the symphony orchestra the harp is the most valuable of all the plucked string instruments! Even though it is an ancient instrument, it never appeared in orchestras before the 19th century. To play it, the musician leans the instrument against their right shoulder and plucks the strings with all their fingers except the thumb.
Listen to the unique sonority of the harp in this excerpt of the famous ballet : The Nutcracker
Jennifer Swartz is the OSM's principal harpist.
How does it sound?
The struck strings : The Piano
Did you know?
How the piano works
Both a percussion and a string instrument, the piano produces sounds thanks to small felt-covered hammers that strike metal strings. With its 88 black and white keys, it has the widest range of any instrument in the orchestra!
The piano is not always present in the orchestra, and few symphonic works include a part written for it... It was only integrated into this type of musical ensemble toward the end of the 19th century!
Olga Gross is the OSM's principal pianist. She also plays the celesta at times.
Did you know?
Saxophone
The Woodwinds
The instruments most commonly used in the woodwind family are the flute, the clarinet, the oboe, and the bassoon.
The Woodwinds
How is the sound produced?
The Flute
The bassoon and the contrabassoon
The Oboe and the English Horn
Theclarinet
The Woodwinds
The woodwinds instrument family (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and saxophone) has the most members in the orchestra next to the strings. Just like the string instruments, they are made of wood, but their shape is different: They are hollow, thin and fairly long, like pipes!
How is the sound produced?
The openings on the oboe, the bassoon and the clarinet are fitted with small pieces of wood called “reeds” that the players vibrate with their lips. There are single reeds and double reeds, depending on the instrument. As for the flute, it does not have a reed, but a little hole (embouchure) over which the flutist blows air to produce a sound.
To play the notes, you press on round flat keys that cover holes. Each note has its own fingering, and the more holes you cover, the lower the sound!
Did you know
Flute
The Flute
In the 17th century the modern flute replaced the recorder in the orchestra. They are made of silver, gold or platinum, and they have a range of about three octaves. The smallest version of the flute - the piccolo - is twice as short as the flute.
Flute
Piccolo
The flute is sometimes called the “transverse flute.” The word transverse describes the horizontal position of the instrument across the players face and to the right. It’s as if the player’s mouth and face are being “traversed” by the instrument!
Timothy Hutchins is principal flute, head of the OSM's flute section.
The Clarinet
In an orchestra you will find three types of clarinets: the E-flat clarinet, with a high sound, the B-flat clarinet, which is more common, and the bass clarinet, with a very low sound, and much bigger than the B-flat! All three types are made of ebony: a very rare type of wood that grows naturally in southern Africa. It gives them their rich sound.
Clarinets joined the orchestra around the time of Mozart, in the 18th century. They have a broad ranges of notes: more than 4 octaves. Their sound are quite soft and round.
Todd Cope is principal clarinet, head of the OSM's clarinet section
Did you know?
Tuning
The oboe and English Horn
The timbre of the oboe and its cousin the English horn have a characteristic in common: they sound rather nasal! In fact, that’s why the oboe was chosen by Sergei Prokofiev to portray the duck in his famous story of Peter and the Wolf. But, when these instruments are played solo, they can surprise listeners with beautiful soft melodies. Even though their timbres are similar, the sounds produced by the English horn are lower than those of the oboe, because the instrument is longer.
Notice the difference between the sonority of the oboe and the English horn by listening to these two excerpts.
Alex Liedtke is principal oboe, head of the OSM's oboe section.
The bassoon and contrabassoon
The bassoon is a long tube, folded over on itself (2.5 meters) made of maple or of rosewood. The deep sounds of the bassoon and its big brother the contrabassoon are produced by blowing into a double reed fixed to a metallic tube: the crook. The sound then travels along a U-shaped tube.A bassoonist holds their instrument leaning to one side over their right hip.
Stéphane Lévesque is principal bassoon, head of the OSM's bassoon section.
The Brass Instruments
The instruments in the brass family are the horn, the trumpet, the trombone, and the tuba.
The trumpet
The Brass Instruments
The horn
The tuba
The trombone
Did you know?
Harmonics
The Brass Instruments
There are fewer brass instruments than woodwinds and strings, but they do not lack for sound! We call them brass instruments (trumpet, trombone, tuba and horn) because they are made of different types of metal alloys, including brass, a flexible and brilliant metal.
It was the invention of valves in 1814 that allowed the trumpet to play notes with great precision!
The Trumpet
The trumpet has the highest sound in its family. It is a 1.5-meter-long cylindrical metal tube (made of brass) coiled up and ending in a mouthpiece on one side and a bell on the other. To play it, the trumpeter blows into the mouthpiece combined with the action of several valves and the vibration of their lips. They can play many different notes while keeping the same fingering, by changing the speed of air they blow and the vibration of their lips!
Valves
Mouthpiece
Bell
Paul Merkelo is principal trumpet, head of the OSM's trumpet section.
Did you know?
Horn
The Horn
Easily recognizable by its circular shape, the name of the horn comes from the animal horns used to make the earliest versions. The horn has a warm sound. It is equipped with a mouthpiece, rotary valves (which allow the notes to be changed), a large bell, and several meters of coiled and folded metal tubing. To play it, the horn player places their right hand inside the bell and their left hand on the valves.
Mouthpiece
Rotary valves
The bell
Catherine Turner is principal horn, head ot the OSM's horn section.
Did you know?
Trombone
The Trombone
With this instrument, there’s no longer a need for pistons and valves! Having tubing nearly 4 meters long, it is the only brass instrument to use a slide. In fact, the slide allows the player to change the pitch of the notes and produce a wide variety of sound effects! It was the trombone’s flexibility that allowed it to join the orchestra in the 19th century.
Slide
James Box is trombone solo, head of the OSM's trombone section.
Did you know?
Tuba
The Tuba
It’s the lowest instrument in the brass family. It’s also the one that needs the most air. To shorten or lengthen the distance the air has to travel between the mouthpiece and the bell, the tubist can use up to 6 valves.
In addition to playing the bass line in a piece, the tuba can also carry sustained melodies in the low register. The depth of the sounds produced by this instrument can give certain passages a tone that is either comical or mournful!
The tuba consists of a tube 5.5 to 6 meters long that coils around itself!
Austin Howle is the OSM's principal tubist.
The percussions
The percussion family includes many instruments.
The percussion family
Fun facts about percussion
In order to differentiate between all the different percussion instruments, they are divided into two large families :
Pitched percussions
Unpitched percussions
Percussions
As a percussionist, you need to know how to play several different instruments. Discover the secrets of the percussion family with Hugues Tremblay!
Serge Desgagné is the OSM's principal percussion, head of the percussion section.
Andrei Malashenko is principal timpani, head of the timpani section.
Did you know?
The traditionals
Percussions
Did you know?
The membranophones
The percussion family groups together many instruments that are quite different from one another. To play them, percussionists strike them, shake them, or even scratch them. Some percussion instruments are made of metal, wood, or even skin (membrane) stretched over a wooden frame.
Did you know?
The idiophones
Did you know?
The peculiars
At the beginning of the 20th century, increased globalization allowed unpitched percussion instruments like the tam-tam from Asia and pitched percussion instruments like the xylophone, the glockenspiel and marimba, inspired by African instruments, to take their place in the orchestra.
Did you know?
The OSM Bells
Pitched Percussions
We recognize pitched percussion instruments by paying attention to the sounds they produce! In fact, you’ll notice that tubular bells, timpani, glockenspiel, marimba, xylophone, and vibraphone—all pitched percussion instruments—produce notes that can also be played on a piano. These percussion instruments are often used to play melodies, as you can hear here!
Unpitched Percussions
Snare drum, cymbals, bass drum and tambourine: what do all these instruments have in common? They are all unpitched percussion instruments!
Unpitched sounds are those that could not be reproduced on a piano, like the sound of snapping fingers, for example. These percussion instruments are often used to create rhythms.
A brief history of Symphonic Music
From royal courts to the Maison symphonique de Montréal
In Europe, up to the end of the 15th century, the purpose of music was for entertainment and dancing at royal courts. Musicians either came from noble families, or worked in their service.
Since the 17th century, developments in instrument manufacturing, music theory, the evolution of musical genres and social transformations led to the emergence of many new forms of orchestral music.
From the Baroque Erato contemporary creations and everything in between, the structure of orchestral instrumentation has never stopped evolving in order to serve the needs of composers, musicians and the public.
Contemporary Era 1950-today
Romantic Era 1825-1900
Classical Era 1750-1825
Modern Era 1900-1950
Baroque Era 1607-1750
Baroque Era
1600-1750
Musicians composed and performed for the nobility or the Church, in orchestras varying from 10 to 60 instruments. It was a productive time for the advancement of music theory: the development of major and minor modes and of fundamental classical harmony. It was also a time when new instruments were designed, with the viol and harpsichord being most commonly played. The Baroque era ended in 1750, with the death of J.S. Bach.
“Luthier’s workshop” from the 1750s, from the Encyclopedia of Diderot and d’Alembert
Frederick the Great Playing the Flute at Sanssouci, by Adolph von Menzel
J.S. Bach (1685-1750) The Well-Tempered Clavier, vol. I and II
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) The Four Seasons
Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759) The Messiah
Classical Era
1750-1825
This was the symphony’s golden age. Haydn alone composed 104 of them! The novelty in this period was doubling the number of wind instruments in orchestral scores. The orchestra now needed a conductor to lead up to 80 musicians! Composers would often conduct their works. The first public concerts were hugely popular!
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Symphony no. 82 in C major, “The Bear”
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1826) Symphony n°1
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Symphony no.41, “Jupiter”
Ludwig van Beethoven conducting the orchestra, by Michel Katzaroff
Romantic Era
1825-1900
Music truly became an art form. Many large concert halls and opera houses were built. The orchestra grew to include up to 100 musicians! Composers were far more independent, daring to write pieces that might shock audiences, like Beethoven who included a chorus of voices in the last movement of his 9th Symphony! An absolute scandal!
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) Symphonie fantastique
Piotr Ilitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) The Nutcracker
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Hungarian Dances
Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A minor
Concert given by Hector Berlioz at the Cirque des Champs Élysées (1845)
Modern Era
1900-1950
The turn of the 20th century was also crucial for composers. Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Igor Stravinsky broke the rules of composition, exploring new sounds and approaches to play instruments. John Cage’s concept of a “prepared piano” is one salient example of innovation.
Béla Bartók (1881–1945) Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta
George Gershwin (1898-1937) Concerto for piano in F major
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) La mer
John Cage (1912-1992) and the “prepared piano”
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) The Rite of Spring
Contemporary Era
1950-today
After the Second World War, composers pushed boundaries even further. All methods and traditions were challenged and there was talk of “new music.” Musicians worked like scientists in laboratories. With the development of electronics, they experimented with new sounds and sound processing.
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) Kammersymphonie n° 2, in E-flat minor
Maxime Goulet (born in1980) Chocolats symphoniques
György Ligeti (1923- 2006) Symphonic poem for 100 metronomes
Pierre Schaeffer (1910-1995) in his laboratory
Abigail Richardson (born in 1976) Step Up: Sesquie for Canada 150
The Conductor
Why a conductor?
The role of the conductor
What is conducting?
TheScore
Dynamics and tempi
Watch Rafael Payare conducting a short excerpt during the OSM’s Virée Classique. Credit: André Robitaille.
Video
Being a Conductor
The Conductor
The conductor stands in front of the musicians, facing away from the audience.
Did you know
Entrance onto the stage
One of their tasks is to indicate to the musicians when to start and stop playing, when to play louder or softer (dynamics), and when to go faster or slower (tempo). Through all their gestures and facial expressions, the conductor conveys to the musicians all the emotions contained in the music!
For a long time conductors were almost always men. But these days, more and more women are taking on the role of conductor!
In Quebec, like many other parts of the world, women conductors are seen leading the greatest orchestras. In France there is even a conducting competition exclusively for women!
Rafael Payare, Music Director of the OSM
Why a conductor?
Video
A Conductor’s Gestures!
In the era of the first orchestras, there were far fewer musicians, sometimes only a dozen or so. As such, it was not that hard for the musicians to play together. Often the first violinist would signal to the other musicians when to start playing and when to stop.
The conductor is not necessarily a specialist in any one instrument. He or she must have a strong knowledge of each of the sections. Actually, we could say that the orchestra is the conductor’s instrument.
But with time, orchestras became larger and larger, and the music they played more and more complex. Eventually it was necessary to assign the task of leading the orchestra to a single person who was not playing one of the instruments.
It is with a precise gesture that the conductor communicates with the musicians in concerts and rehearsals. Like learning to play an instrument, this particular gesture require many hours of practice and refinement.
Great composers of the past often conducted their own works. After all, they knew better than anyone else how their own music should be played. But with time, the composers were no longer there to conduct their music, and so a separate conductor needed to take on the job.
Video
A robot conducting
What is conducting?
Did you know?
The baton
Of course it involves communicating to the musicians when to start and stop, when to play louder or softer (dynamics), faster or slower (tempo). But, it also involves deciding the general intention and colour to give to the music. For example, we can tell when we listen to the same piece of music conducted by different conductors that each person brings their own energy and vision to the work in question.
There are hundreds of interpretations of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, with its famous first measures. Each version bears the distinctive imprint of the conductor who performed it.
Listening game
Note here the full intensity with which Rafael Payare conducts the OSM!
The Score
Have a look at the first pages of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. There are so many things taking place at the same time!
The big book placed on the stand in front of the conductor on stage is called the score. It contains all the notes played by all the musicians, as well as all the expressive indications given by the composer (tempo, dynamics, etc.)
As you can see in the score to the right, the instruments are indicated from the top to the bottom: The woodwinds, the brass and the percussion. Then come the choristers, also divided into sections according to their voice type, from highest to lowest (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), and finally the strings. We also see tempo indications: presto, which means that the tempo is very fast, and dynamics: ff, which means fortissimo, or very loud in English.
You can listen to the first movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony n°9 in this excerpt.
Did you know? Tempo (video in French only)
Dynamics and tempi
Did you know? Dynamics (video in French only)
Italy was central in the development of music in Europe since the time of the Renaissance. It was at this time that Italian terms started to be used across Europe to indicate dynamics and tempi (tempo becomes tempi in the plural) in a score.
The dynamics, from the softest to the loudest:
However, some composers preferred to write their indications for tempo and expressivity in their own languages (in German, in French, and even in Russian!). Nonetheless, Italian has never lost its primary place as the language of choice for musical indications.
Tempi, from the slowest to the fastest in BPM (beat per minute):
40-60
52-68
112-160
60-80
88-112
76-100
140-200
~ 140
100-128
> 188
Did you know...
The OSM Chorus was founded in the 1980s at the request of the Music Director at the time, Charles Dutoit. Made up of 50 professional singers, and from 80 to 100 volunteer singers, the Chorus joins the OSM regularly to perform the great masterpieces of the repertoire.
The OSM: A Rich History
In May 1962, the OSM embarked on its first tour, marking the first European tour by a Canadian orchestra. The ensemble achieved resounding success with celebrated performances in Moscow, Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Kyiv, Vienna, and Paris, conducted by Zubin Mehta and Jacques Beaudry.
Did you know...
The OSM is led by conductors who come from all around the world. Together, they perform concerts all year long.
Did you know...
The modern conductor’s baton is a tapered stick of varying length, usually white in colour (so that it is easier for the musicians to see) with a pointed end and a bulbous cork base. This tool for leading an orchestra did not always look the way it does today! In the Baroque period, leading the ensemble was a task taken on by the harpsichord player. Over the course of the 18th century, the job fell to the first violin, who would gesture with their bow when they were not playing. It wasn’t until the era of Beethoven (1770-1827) that the modern baton made its appearance – much more manageable and lightweight than a bow!
Did you know?
Besides the flute, there is another exception in the woodwind family! It’s an instrument that we don’t often find in concert music: the saxophone. Since it is made of metal, it might seem to belong to the brass family. But, the saxophone is a reed instrument, just like the clarinet. Therefore, the saxophone belongs to the woodwind family. At the OSM, André Moisan plays the saxophone occasionally, but most of the time, he plays the bass clarinet!
Did you know...
The ancestor of the trombone was called the sackbut!
With its prominent position in the hall, the Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique takes full advantage of the exceptional acoustics. This incredible instrument boasts 109 stops, 83 ranks, and 6,489 pipes to create its rich, powerful sound.
Did you know...
The tuba is a recent instrument, having been invented in 1835 by Wilhelm Wieprecht and Johann Moritz.
The OSM In europe - 2024
During its 59th tour, the OSM shone in eight of the most prestigious concert halls in Europe, performing in London, Luxembourg, Paris, Hamburg, Berlin, Amsterdam, Munich, and Vienna.
The OSM: A Rich History
The construction of the Maison symphonique de Montréal, home of the OSM, was completed in 2011. The hall was inaugurated in September 2011 with a concert by the OSM under the direction of Kent Nagano.
Did you know...
Although they come in many different shapes and sizes, the instruments from the brass family all have one thing in common: thanks to their embouchure, they can play many different notes all while maintaining the same fingering! All you have to do is change the speed of the air and the vibration of the lips while blowing into the instrument to produce notes that we call “harmonics” that are naturally present in the fundamental sound.
The OSM: A Rich History
The OSM released its very first CD in 1981, conducted by Charles Dutoit, featuring Ravel’s music: Daphnis et Chloé.
The hall has movable ceiling panels to change the room’s shape and sound, making it easy to adapt the acoustics to any event or musical style. For example, the reverberation levels can be adjusted to create an intimate atmosphere for a small concert, or a grand one for a symphony.
Did you know...
Sometimes, horn players place their right hand inside the bell of the instrument while playing to adjust the pitch of a note or to change the tone quality (for a more nasal sound).
All potential noise sources in the building—like the heating systems, elevators, and even the restrooms—were specially designed to prevent sound propagation and ensure a quiet environment.
How to tune the organ?
The pipes of an organ are tuned so that the entire instrument produces a balanced and coherent sound, without any wrong notes. By slightly adjusting the length of the pipe using a tuning device, its frequency is modified to match the desired pitch. The metal and wood used to make the pipes react to changes in temperature and humidity, so the organ must be regularly retuned to maintain its sound quality.
Listen to the solo pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin performing Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin with the OSM.
A robot conducting
In 2017, a humanoid robot named YuMi conducted several pieces during a concert in Italy.
United States - 2023
From March 6 to 8, 2023, the OSM traveled to the United States for a series of concerts, starting in Washington and concluding at the renowned Carnegie Hall in New York, under the direction of Rafael Payare.
Did you know...
The strings of the cello were once made from sheep intestines! Many cellists who play Baroque music (1600–1750) still use strings made from sheep intestines today. However, most musicians now use steel strings.
Tuning
Just before the beginning of the concert, once all the musicians have taken their places on stage, the concertmaster makes their entrance. It is the signal that the orchestra will start tuning! The oboe will play the note A, in order for all the musicians to adjust their instruments according to that note. But, not everyone tunes at the same time! First come the wind instruments, and then the string instruments. When everyone is ready, the conductor makes their entrance on stage, usually greeted by applause from the public. Then, the concert starts.
The OSM in Krakow and Salzburg - 2018
Kent Nagano and the OSM opened the Salzburg Festival in 2018. It was the orchestra’s fifth visit to Austria. The OSM is the first Canadian orchestra in history to be invited to perform at the Salzburg Festival.
Stradivarius
Have you ever heard of Stradivarius? It was the name of a luthier, also known as a stringed instrument maker. He lived three centuries ago, between 1645 and 1737, and many of the violins that he made are still used today by the greatest violinist in the world. They have an exceptional sound quality.
This is an illustration of the luthier Antonio Stradivarius in his workshop, deep in thought!
The OSM Carillon Bells
The OSM is the proud owner of ten carillon bells, custom-made for the orchestra by the Royal Eijsbouts Foundry in the Netherlands! Until their acquisition, the Orchestra had to substitute tubular bells.
Similar to those found in church bell towers, carillon bells lack a clapper—the metal piece that swings back and forth to make them ring. They are designed to produce precise pitches.
The carillon bells are placed on a special stand, and the percussionist strikes them using metal mallets of varying hardness. The ten bells are made of bronze, consisting of 20% tin and 80% copper.
The OSM: A Rich History
As early as November 1935, the OSM began engaging with children through the creation of Youth Matinees — an innovation for the time that was later adopted by the New York Philharmonic and remains a tradition at the OSM to this day.
NoRthern Quebec Tour - 2018
The OSM and Kent Nagano went on an eleven-day tour of Northern Quebec and Nunavik. The Orchestra and its conductor performed Chaakapesh, the Trickster's Quest for audiences in six Indigenous communities..
The Americas Tour - 2019
In October 2019, the OSM went on tour in Latin America. The program included stops in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Santiago in Chile, Buenos Aires in Argentina, and, of course, Mexico.
Écoute le début de chacune de ces versions de la Symphonie n°5 de Beethoven en portant attention à la gestuelle, aux nuances et au tempo. Remarques-tu des différences ? Amuse-toi à les noter pour ensuite les comparer !
Jeu d'écoute!
Did you know...
Most major cities in the world have their own orchestra! Certain cities even have more than one!
The OSM: A Rich History
In 1954, the Société des concerts symphoniques de Montréal was renamed the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) —the name it proudly bears to this day.
The OSM: A Rich History
Inauguration of the Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique, made possible thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Jacqueline Desmarais. This organ has 6,489 pipes.
Did you know...
The harp has 47 strings and 7 pedals that are used to modify the pitch of the strings. The pedals modify the pitch of the notes played. There is one pedal for each note (C, D, E, F, G, A, B).
Savais-tu que...
Avant de commencer les répétitions d’une œuvre, la ou le violon solo indique les coups d’archet dans la partition avec des symboles. Tous·tes les violonistes doivent ensuite suivre ces indications afin que les archets bougent en même temps et dans la même direction.
The OSM: A Rich History
Creation of the El Sistema OSM program, an initiative by Rafael Payare. The program is aimed at youth aged 6 to 16 in Montréal-Nord and offers participants the opportunity to learn to play an orchestral instrument through after-school sessions.
The OSM: A Rich History
On November 16, 1934, Provincial Secretary of Quebec Athanase David announced the creation of the Société des concerts symphoniques de Montréal (CSM), an orchestra serving the province’s French-Canadian public.
70% of the hall’s surfaces are covered in beechwood, chosen for its excellent acoustic properties. The way the wood is polished is designed to control how the sound travels.
The octobass is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, so big that its notes are on the very edge of what the human ear can perceive. Standing 3.6 metres tall and weighing 290 pounds, it requires the musician to use a small step stool and a system of levers and pedals (or a keyboard, depending on the instrument) to play it. The OSM is the only orchestra in the world that owns three of these rare instruments.
The OSM: A Rich History
The La musique aux enfants program, an initiative by Kent Nagano, was launched in 2016. Thanks to this program, around 200 children aged 4–5 from Saint-Rémi school in Montréal-Nord receive daily music education.
The audition process
To become a musician with the OSM, you have to go through an audition process. Discover the behind-the-scenes of this process (in French only).
Did you know...
For orchestras there are two principal ways for the musicians to enter the stage before the concert: “à l’Américaine,” and “à l’Européenne.” In the American way, the musicians are free to enter the stage and take their place whenever they like. They can warm up at their own pace until all the musicians have made their entrance. In the European style, it is much more formal: All the musicians make their entrance at the same time, and sometimes they even take their seats together!
The OSM: A Rich History
In 1940, the Prix Archambault was established in honour of its patron, Edmond Archambault. This award later evolved into the OSM Competition, which remains the most prestigious national performance competition in Canada.
Did you know...
There are fewer than 10 octobasses in the world! The OSM is very lucky to have access to 3 octobasses.
Did you know...
The flute is not made of wood, but of metal, and sometimes even of silver or gold! But, why then does it belong to the woodwind family? Well, it is simply because its ancestors were made of wood, such as seen in this picture with this traverso! With time, the wooden instruments were replaced with metal ones, which is what gives the flute its brilliant sound.
The OSM in South Korea - 2022
From July 5 to 8, 2022, the OSM went on tour across South Korea. It was the orchestra’s first international tour under the direction of Rafael Payare.
To ensure perfect acoustics, the hall is encased in a structural shell that insulates it from all outside noise and vibrations. Its pillars rest on cushions, and 175 sound-insulating pads line the hall.
a conductor’s gestures!
Watch this video in which the American conductor Leonard Bernstein leads the final movement of a Haydn symphony... using only his face!
How does it sound?
Listen here to an excerpt of the OSM's youth concert Robin Hood to discover what an orchestra sounds like.