Instruments of the Orchestra

Who plays in the orchestra?

The orchestra is made up of four sections:  strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Each section is made up of a variety of instruments that are sometimes called families. The instruments are grouped in families because of some shared characteristics, such as what they are made of, how they make a sound, or how they look. Many instruments have larger or smaller versions that create higher or lower pitches. Like many families, there are similarities; however, each member has a unique voice and personality. When these different instrument families are combined, the composer has a wide variety of sounds and ranges to explore to express their musical ideas for the audience.

STRINGS

The largest family in the orchestra is the string section, which includes violin, viola, cello, and double bass (pronounced “base”). String instruments feature a hollow body made of wood with strings that run down the length of the instrument. The strings are made of nylon, steel, and sometimes Kevlar, the material used for bullet-proof vests. Most string instruments feature four strings tuned a fifth apart with the lowest string on the left and the highest on the right.

To create a sound, the player uses a bow, which features a wood handle and strings, usually made from hair from a horse’s tail, held under tension. When the bow is pulled across the string, it causes the string to vibrate, making a note. Sometimes the player will pluck the strings with their fingers, called pizzicato, or hit the strings with the wood of their bow, called col legno, to create a special sound.

The violin is the smallest member of the family but the largest section in the orchestra with up to thirty. Usually, the violins are divided into two parts with first violins playing the melody while second violins play both melody and harmony lines. The violin is held between the left shoulder and the chin. The left hand pushes down on the strings to play different notes while the right hand moves the bow across the strings.

The viola is slightly larger and has a lower pitch than the violin. It has thicker strings and often sounds warmer and richer than the violin. It is held and played the same way as the violin. The viola section usually has ten to fourteen members and often provides the harmony lines. The viola is alto voice in the string family.

Next is the cello, which is much larger so it can’t be played under the chin. The cello is played by putting the body of the instrument between your knees with the neck of the instrument resting on the left shoulder. To stabilize the instrument, there is a metal peg at the end that rests on the ground. Like the other string instruments, the left hand presses the strings while the right hand moves the bow (because of how the instrument is held, it feels like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time while you play!). Most orchestras have eight to twelve cellos. Many people think the cello sounds the most like the human voice. With its wide variety of tones and wide range, the cello is a very expressive member of the string family.

The largest member of the string family is the double bass. It is over six feet long and plays some of the lowest notes in the orchestra, often providing the harmonic foundation for the group. The instrument is so big that the player usually stands up or uses a tall stool while they play their instrument. Like the cello, the bass has a peg at the bottom to support the instrument. The basses can be quiet at times but can create fierce, low growls that add excitement to the orchestra.

The harp is also part of the string family, but looks very different from the rest. It is made of a six foot tall wooden frame that has forty-seven strings in various lengths that correspond to the white keys on the piano. The harp also has seven foot pedals on the bottom that change the pitches of the strings to play sharps and flats. To help the musician know which string is which, all the C strings are red and the F strings are blue. The harpist plays with the instrument between their legs and leaned back, resting on the right shoulder. The musician plucks the strings with their fingertips and thumbs to make a sound. Harps aren’t used in every orchestral piece. When a harp is needed, there is usually only one (although Berlioz called for four in Symphonie fantastique!). Harps appear when a composer wants a special and specific color for a melody.

WOODWINDS

The woodwind family includes flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, and saxophones. Most of these instruments were originally made of wood and were simple tubes with finger holes along the pipe, an opening at the bottom, and some kind of mouthpiece at the top. The instruments are played by blowing air through the pipe, hence the name woodwind! By covering the holes, different pitches are created. As the instruments developed, keys were added to make playing the instrument easier and to add the availability of more notes. The clarinet, oboe, saxophone, and bassoon all use a reed, a thin piece of wood that vibrates when you blow through the instrument. Clarinets and saxophones use a single reed attached to a mouthpiece, while oboes and bassoons use a double reed, two pieces of wood joined together. Like the string instruments, the smaller instruments have a higher pitch while the larger ones are lower. The instruments in the woodwind section each have families of their own with larger and smaller versions that play at different pitches.

The flute is the oldest of all pitched instruments and would have originally been made of stone, clay, or a hollow piece of reed, like bamboo. Modern flutes are made of silver, gold, platinum, or wood and feature numerous keys. To play, the flute is held horizontally with the left hand on top and the right hand on the bottom. The musician blows across the mouthpiece with a small hole in the center, similar to blowing across the top of a soda bottle. Pressing the keys changes the pitch. Usually, there are two or three flutes in the orchestra and they often play melody lines. The flute family includes the piccolo, which is very small and high-pitched, as well as the larger alto and bass flutes which play lower and sound mysterious.

The oboe is a black cylinder, usually made of wood, that features a double reed. Oboes and clarinets look similar but sound different from each other. To play the oboe, the reed is placed in the mouth and you blow through the opening, causing the reed to vibrate creating the sound. There are usually two or three oboes in the orchestra. Their unique sound can be somewhat sad and haunting, or joyful and playful. The oboe also has a special job. The first oboe plays the note “A” before the concert to make sure all the musicians match and that the orchestra is in tune. There are different-sized instruments in the oboe family as well. The most commonly used is the English horn, which isn’t English or a horn, but rather a lower-pitched version of the oboe that is used in some orchestral pieces for special melodies.

The clarinet is also a black, wooden cylinder. It uses one reed attached to a mouthpiece that vibrates when the musician blows, creating a sound. Usually, there are two or three clarinets in the orchestra. The clarinet has a wide range. It can sound mysterious or jazzy in the low registers or resonant and bright on upper notes. The most common instrument is the B♭clarinet, but there are other versions of the instrument and sometimes more than one clarinet is needed in a single piece. Other commonly used clarinets are the E♭clarinet, which is smaller and higher pitched, and the bass clarinet, which is lower and darker.

The saxophone is a newer instrument and is infrequently used in the orchestra. Although it is made of brass, it uses a reed and mouthpiece like other woodwind instruments. The instrument was invented in Belgium in the 1840s by Adophe Sax. Like other woodwind instruments, the saxophone family has numerous members in different sizes with different pitches .The most common is the E♭ alto saxophone, but there are also soprano, tenor, and baritone versions that are commonly used. Although not often found in the orchestra, some 20th-century composers have included them for a unique color or jazz influence, such as in Bolero, An American in Paris, and Rhapsody in Blue.

The bassoon is the lowest member of the woodwind family. It is a long wooden pipe which is doubled in half and has a lot of keys! The bassoon is bent to allow the musician to play the instrument more comfortably, unbent the bassoon would be nine feet long. The bassoon also uses a double reed, but unlike the oboe, the bassoon reed is attached to a special pipe called a local which connects the reed to the instrument. There are usually two or three bassoons in the orchestra. They play lower harmonies, often with the cellos, with whom they share a range. Bassoons are also featured for melodies too, showing off their unique ready sound. The contrabassoon is the larger, lower version of the bassoon. It is so long it takes two bends to allow the musician to hold it. When the contrabassoon plays its lowest notes, it can make the ground vibrate!

BRASS

The brass family features instruments made of...brass! These instruments can be very loud and exciting. Originally these instruments would have been made of wood, shells, or animal horns. Each instrument is a long tube bent in different ways before ending in a bell-like opening. To play a brass instrument, the musician buzzes their lips against the cup-shaped mouthpiece. The mouthpiece amplifies the buzzing of the lips which creates the sound. Rather than keys, most brass instruments have valves that have a button-shaped key on top. To create different pitches, the musicians buzz their lips harder or softer, creating a higher or lower note. 

Unlike the English horn, French horns are horns, and they are from France. The modern version is based on a hunting horn used in France in the 1600s. The French horn can play lovely, mellow tunes or loud fanfares. The horn has almost eighteen feet of metal tubing, which is curved around itself into a circular shape before ending in a large bell. The musician uses their left hand to play the three valves, creating the notes, while the right hand supports the bell. To change the sound of the horn, the musician can place their hand inside the bell modifying the sound and volume of the note. The orchestra has between two and eight horns, depending on the piece.

The trumpet has been used for a very long time. Trumpets have been used to sound alarms, call armies to battle, gather people for announcements, and celebrate in parades. The trumpet is the smallest and highest of the brass instruments and has a bright, vibrant sound that adds excitement and color to the orchestra. The trumpet features a slender brass tube that coils over itself and three valves. Most orchestras use two to four trumpets. Trumpets come in a variety of sizes and keys. Commonly used versions include the piccolo trumpet, which is smaller and higher than the regular trumpet, and the flugelhorn, which has a slightly different shape, creating a mellower sound.

The trombone is very different from the rest of the members of the brass family. It doesn’t have valves, but instead has a slide to change the pitch. A trombone has two long, thin U-shaped pipes. One pipe slides into the other and the musician moves the slide in and out with their right hand into one of seven positions to get each note. Like all other brass instruments, the trombone uses a mouthpiece and buzzing lips to create the sound. Usually, there are two or three trombones in the orchestra. They play in the same range as cellos and basses and often play harmonies either within their section or in combination with other instruments.

The tuba is the largest and lowest member of the brass family. It is made up of almost sixteen feet of tubing that is coiled around itself, ending in a large bell that points up above the musician’s head. The tuba is held on the player’s lap and has three valves. Tubas can vary a little bit in size, and like all other instruments, the bigger it is, the lower the sound. Tubas aren’t always used in orchestral pieces, but when it is needed, there is usually only one. They provide the harmonic bass line for the entire orchestra.

PERCUSSION

Percussion are some of the oldest instruments; for millennia humans have hit different items to create a sound. Any instrument that makes a sound when hit, scraped, or shaken is considered percussion. This might sound easy, but percussionists need to know exactly where to hit a certain instrument and how hard to strike it to get just the right sound at the right time. There are two main classes of percussion instruments, tuned and untuned. Tuned percussion instruments can sound a specific pitch, such as timpani, marimba, xylophone, or piano. Untuned percussion do not have a certain pitch, such as bass drum or cymbals.

Percussionist help keep the rhythm for the orchestra and add interesting effects and color to the music, often portraying certain sound effects, like the whip in Sleigh Ride. Most of the time, percussionists must play many instruments in each concert, sometimes several in each piece. Some composers use a lot of percussion in their work, while others use only one or two instruments. Percussion can add exciting and different sounds and are some of the most interesting instruments in the orchestra. Sometimes, the percussion section gets unusual instruments, or things you might not even consider instruments at all! Composers have included car horns, whistles, Slinkies, water glasses, and even trash cans in their music, all of which fall to the percussion section. The most common percussion instruments in the orchestra are piano, timpani, xylophone, cymbals, snare drum, bass drum, chimes, and celesta.

Why is the piano listed in the percussion section? It has lots of strings, several for each of its 88 keys, but it also uses hammers to strike those strings. Most often, because of the striking action, the piano is considered a percussion instrument. (Visit our History of the Piano to learn more https://www.skagitsymphony.com/history-of-the-piano-toc) The piano isn’t always part of the orchestra, but some composers use it to add harmonic richness, especially since pianists can play big chords all by themselves. Pianos also commonly appear with the orchestra as a soloist, usually in concertos. 

In the back of the orchestra are four large drums that look like shiny, brass bowls. These are the timpani or kettledrums. The drums are large copper cauldrons with a drumhead stretched over the top. Timpani can be tuned to a specific note by changing the tension of the drumhead by raising or lowering a pedal at the bottom of the drum. The percussionist plays the timpani by striking the drumhead with mallets. The timpanist needs a good sense of pitch so they can change the tuning during the concert. Timpani are used frequently in the orchestra because they can provide rhythmic support as well as melodic lines.

Xylophone is one example of a mallet percussion instrument, other mallet instruments are marimba, glockenspiel, and vibraphone. These instruments feature bars, made from wood or metal, that are arranged like the keys on a piano. Below each bar is a tube, made of metal or wood, which is called a resonator that vibrates when the key is struck, producing the note. Xylophones have wooden bars and metal resonators which create a bright sound. The marimba has wooden bars and resonators and has a warmer, mellow tone. The vibraphone has metal bars and resonators with rotating discs inside. The vibraphone is attached to a small motor that creates vibrato, a wobbly vibration in the pitch. The glockenspiel is a small version of the xylophone with metal bars which has a high-pitched, tinkly sound. 

The snare drum is a small, cylindrical drum with heads on both ends. On the bottom head is a set of wire-wrapped strings, called snares, which run across it. When the drum is struck, these strings rattle, giving the snare drum its unique sound. The snares can be turned off with a small lever on the side of the drum, allowing the drum to either rattle or not, depending on what the piece calls for. Drummers can use sticks, mallets, or brushes to strike the drumhead to create different sounds. Snare drums are often used in military music and marching bands. They keep the exact rhythm for a piece and are used for drumrolls.

The bass drum is the largest and lowest percussion instrument. It is shaped like a snare drum but doesn’t have snares. Usually, the bass drum is on a frame and is vertical, rather than horizontal. The drum is played with large mallets that have felt or sheepskin on the end. Although it is a large instrument, the bass drum has a wide dynamic range and can be played softly or can create huge, booming sounds.

The chimes are metal tubes of different lengths hooked to a metal frame. Each tube has a different pitch and they are struck by a hard mallet. Chimes sound like church bells.

The celesta looks like a miniature piano and sounds like tinkly bells. Celesta have 49-65 keys and are played like a piano but has a different high-pitched sound.

The percussion section includes many other instruments including castanets, cymbals, gongs, tambourines, triangles, and more. The list of percussion instruments goes on and on, but each one has a place in the orchestra and creates fun and exciting sounds.

CONDUCTOR

The conductor or director is the final part of the orchestra. This person leads the orchestra by keeping the beat with their hands and arms. Most conductors use a baton, a thin stick made of metal or wood which helps the musicians see the beat more easily. Conductors not only keep the orchestra together, but help the musicians come in on time and tell different sections to play more loudly or quietly. The conductor leads the group’s rehearsals before each concert, helping the musicians learn their part and imparting their interpretation of each piece.

An important role that most conductors or directors have is choosing the music that the orchestra will play. They carefully choose pieces to present each concert season, often programming a mix of audience favorites with new pieces that might not be as familiar. In this part of their role, the conductor can introduce new compositions and highlight works by diverse composers, as well as presenting standard repertoire to share a wide variety of musical experiences with the musicians and audience.

Orchestras are made up of a wide variety of instruments that come together to create music. Each instrument adds its unique voice to create a more beautiful whole. Without all the different colors in the orchestra, the music would be much less exciting. Try to listen for each instrument in the orchestra and see what they add to the performance. Which instrument or section is your favorite?