Unit 3: What is An Orchestra?

Unit 3: What is an Orchestra?

An Orchestra is a loosely defined term that can be used to refer to any large collection of musicians playing together, usually on string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments.

Strings

Woodwinds

Percussion

Brass

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Strings

String instruments are the foundation of an orchestra. You are familiar with the violin, viola, cello, and double bass, but other string instruments, such as the harp or guitar, can also be found in an orchestra.

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Woodwinds

The term “woodwind” comes from a more traditional method of making the instrument. In the past, instruments such as a flute were made of wood. Many also had a reed, or small wooden piece, to blow air through.

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Brass

Before they were adopted by the symphony orchestra, brass instruments were commonly used for ceremonial purposes. Horns were blown during religious ceremonies and on horseback during hunting expeditions. The sound of a trumpet served to communicate during battle, and trumpet fanfare greeted the members of royal families.

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Percussion

The percussion family includes any object that can make sound by being shaken, hit, scraped, or struck against another instrument.

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Keyboard Instruments

Like many of the other instrument families, the keyboard family includes a great variety of instruments. The aspect that links them all together is that each one is played using the fingers to activate keys on a manual.