The Baroque Orchestra
According to Lawrence (1917, 10) , “in the original Greek, the word Orchestra meant the dancing place and signified that space of lowest level between actors and audience where the chorus performed its evolutions to a musical accompaniment.” Similarly to nowadays, the term “orchestra” is used to describe the place where musicians and dancer performed, typically in front of the stage. Generally, orchestra is also known as the symphony orchestra. Mostly, the orchestra is consisting of 100 musicians. The performance sometimes cooperated with the chorus or only the instrumental section. Nowadays, the musical instruments using in the orchestra consist four major sections which are strings, bass, woodwinds and percussion. Back to the 19th century, many new instruments were invented and added to the orchestra such as trombone and tuba. (Estralla [n.d.])
Back to the Baroque period in 1600-1750 century, the orchestra was developed in this era. Basically, the orchestra performance contains ten to thirty players. Back then, the orchestra often preforms with the opera. The show, later, performs with the instrumental sections only after it becomes well known and usually directs by a conductor. (Fletcher [n.d.]) Particularly, the movement of rhythm performing in the orchestra often use fast-slow-fast plan to attract the audience. (“The Baroque era” [n.d.]) In the other word, the string section plays melodically and rhythmically while the woodwind and brass sections are used as the melodic instruments. (Dorak [n.d.])
Back to the Baroque period in 1600-1750 century, the orchestra was developed in this era. Basically, the orchestra performance contains ten to thirty players. Back then, the orchestra often preforms with the opera. The show, later, performs with the instrumental sections only after it becomes well known and usually directs by a conductor. (Fletcher [n.d.]) Particularly, the movement of rhythm performing in the orchestra often use fast-slow-fast plan to attract the audience. (“The Baroque era” [n.d.]) In the other word, the string section plays melodically and rhythmically while the woodwind and brass sections are used as the melodic instruments. (Dorak [n.d.])
Example of Baroque orchestra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ9qWpa2rIg
Instruments in the Baroque orchestra
The instruments using in the Baroque orchestra divide into four main section which are:
1. Section of strings:
The strings are largest instrumental sections in the orchestra. In particular, the smaller size of instruments produce the higher - pitched sound and the larger size of instruments like cello and double bass produce the lower - pitched sound.
For example, violins, violas, cellos and double basses or the contrabass. (“The string family” [n.d.])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP2_6OLummA&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP2_6OLummA&feature=relmfu
2. Section of brass:
This type of instruments also plays an important role in the orchestra. This type of instruments requires the breath of players to produce sound. In ancient period, this type of instruments was made of wood, tusks and animal horns. However, in nowadays, the instruments are purely made of brass.
For example, the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and the tuba.( “The Brass Family” [n.d.])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE0aSxziNdY&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE0aSxziNdY&feature=relmfu
3. Section of woodwind:
The woodwind section can perform the highest sounding instruments to the lowest as in ordered.
For example, flute, piccolo, oboe, English horn, clarinet, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon and contrabassoon. (“The woodwind family” [n.d.])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEt1Mm8sSkA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEt1Mm8sSkA
4. Section of percussion:
The percussion produces sound when it is hit or shaken. The sound of percussion is very crucial as it produces excitement to the audience.
For example, the timpani, xylophone, cymbals, triangle, snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, maracas, gongs, chimes, celesta and piano. (“Instruments of the Orchestra”; “Baroque orchestral music”, [n.d.])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGKpngesISI&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGKpngesISI&feature=relmfu
Bibliography
• "Baroque Era." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, [n.d.] Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/history/history-bar-inst.htm>.
• "Baroque Music." Essential Humanities. Humphrey Fletcher, [n.d.] Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.essential-humanities.net/western-art/western-music/baroque-music/>.
• “Baroque orchestral music.” BBC News. BBC, [n.d.] Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/western_tradition/baroque_orchestral2.shtml>.
• Dorak Tevfik. “Evolution of the Orchestra in the Classical Period.” [n.d.] Web. 14Nov 2012. <http://www.dorak.info/music/orchest.html>
• Estrella, Espie. "What Is An Orchestra?" About.com Music Education. Music Education, [n.d.] Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://musiced.about.com/od/lessonsandtips/f/bands.htm>.
• Lawrence, W. “The English Theatre Orchestra: Its Rise and Early Characteristics.” The Musical Quarterly 3.1(1917): 10. JSTOR. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.
• "Orchestra." Definition of Orchestra. Oxford Dictionaries, [n.d.] Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/orchestra?q=orchestra>.
• "The Brass Family." Instruments of the Orchestra. [n.d.] Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.orsymphony.org/edu/instruments/brass.aspx>.
• "The Percussion Family." Instruments of the Orchestra. [n.d.] Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.orsymphony.org/edu/instruments/percussion.aspx>.
• "The String Family." Instruments of the Orchestra. [n.d.] Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.orsymphony.org/edu/instruments/strings.aspx>.
• "The Woodwind Family." Instruments of the Orchestra. [ n.d.] Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.orsymphony.org/edu/instruments/woodwinds.aspx>.
• "Baroque Music." Essential Humanities. Humphrey Fletcher, [n.d.] Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.essential-humanities.net/western-art/western-music/baroque-music/>.
• “Baroque orchestral music.” BBC News. BBC, [n.d.] Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/western_tradition/baroque_orchestral2.shtml>.
• Dorak Tevfik. “Evolution of the Orchestra in the Classical Period.” [n.d.] Web. 14Nov 2012. <http://www.dorak.info/music/orchest.html>
• Estrella, Espie. "What Is An Orchestra?" About.com Music Education. Music Education, [n.d.] Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://musiced.about.com/od/lessonsandtips/f/bands.htm>.
• Lawrence, W. “The English Theatre Orchestra: Its Rise and Early Characteristics.” The Musical Quarterly 3.1(1917): 10. JSTOR. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.
• "Orchestra." Definition of Orchestra. Oxford Dictionaries, [n.d.] Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/orchestra?q=orchestra>.
• "The Brass Family." Instruments of the Orchestra. [n.d.] Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.orsymphony.org/edu/instruments/brass.aspx>.
• "The Percussion Family." Instruments of the Orchestra. [n.d.] Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.orsymphony.org/edu/instruments/percussion.aspx>.
• "The String Family." Instruments of the Orchestra. [n.d.] Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.orsymphony.org/edu/instruments/strings.aspx>.
• "The Woodwind Family." Instruments of the Orchestra. [ n.d.] Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.orsymphony.org/edu/instruments/woodwinds.aspx>.