Introducing 

Prezi AI.

Your new presentation assistant.

Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.

Loading…
Transcript

Early History of Orchestras and Orchestration

  • The orchestra ( in the modern sense of the word ) did not exist before the 17th century
  • Previous instrumental ensemble music was chamber music, except for occasional ceremonies when as many instruments as were available would be massed together
  • Until well into the 17th century there was little thought of specifying what instruments should play a part. Any available instrument with proper range was used
  • The first known example of orchestration occurs in Gabrieli's Sacrae Symphoniae (1597).
  • Sacrae Symphoniae played in Monteverdi's Orfeo (1607), one of the first operas that demanded a large varied group of instruments

When we speak of orchestras we usually mean symphony orchestras. They have various instruments and usually play classical music.

Many symphony orchestras have professional musicians only. Most of them are from the larger cities of the world.

Don't get them confused with composers.

A composer is a person who creates and writes music.

The instruments of this family used to be made out of wood, which gives them their name. Today, they are made of wood, plastic, metal or some combination. They are played by blowing air into the mouthpiece, called a reed, and opening or closing the holes with your fingers to change the pitch. Metal caps called keys cover the holes of most woodwind instruments.

The strings are the largest family of instruments. They take up the most space of the stage. When you look at a string instrument, you'll notice that it is made of wood. The bodies of the string instruments, which are hollow inside to allow sound to vibrate within them, are made of different kinds of wood. The part that makes the sound are the strings, which are made of nylon, steel or sometimes gut. The strings are played most often by drawing a bow on them.

Percussion instruments include any instrument that makes a sound when it is struck, shaken or scraped. It is not easy being a percussionist because it takes a lot of practice to hit an instrument with the right amount of strength in the right place at the right time.

Sometimes it performs alone, sometimes it plays along with a group of singers. Orchestras give concerts and play for operas and ballets. They as well provide background music for movies and TV shows.

Symphony Orchestra - a large orchestra of winds, strings, and percussion that plays symphonic works

Symphony - a long piece of music that is usually in four large, separate sections and that is performed by an orchestra.

Orchestra - a group of musicians who usually play classical music together and who are led by a conductor

Among them are the Berlin Philharmonic,

Symphony Orchestra

To conclude our presentation, a YouTube video will play for you a Christmas symphony.

Thank you for your time.

the Vienna Philharmonic,

The String Family

The Woodwind Family

TRIANGLE

CYMBALS

TIMPANI

XYLOPHONE

Percussion Family

The brass family includes:

Trumpet, French Horn, Tuba, and Trombone.

Percussion instruments include: Timpani, xylophone, cymbals, triangle, snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, maracas, gongs, chimes, celesta and piano.

The Brass Family

SNARE DRUM

PIANO

CELESTA

GONG

English Horn

MARACAS

TAMBOURINE

The brass family is, indeed, made of brass. Like the woodwinds, brass players use their breath to provide sound, but instead of blowing into a reed, they vibrate their lips by buzzing them against a metal, cup-shaped mouthpiece. This family can play louder than any other instrument in the orchestra. Although their ancestors are known to be made out of wood, tusks, animal horns or shells, today's modern instruments are entirely made of brass.

oboe

FRENCH HORN

CHIMES

BASS DRUM

piccolo

TUBA

the New York Philharmonic,

TRUMPET

flute

Instruments and their Families

QUESTIONS?

TROMBONE

The string family includes:

Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, and Harp

The instruments of this family includes:

Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet, E-flat Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon and Contrabossoon.

Clarinet

Contrabassoon

Bassoon

E-flat Clarinet

Bass Clarinet

Harp

This picture demonstrates the standard arrangement of the modern symphony orchestra. this arrangement has been used since the early 20th century.

This obviously does not count...

and the Boston Symphony Hall

Most symphony orchestras are led by a conductor. A conductor is a person who leads a musical ensemble by way of visible gestures.

A symphony orchestra can have up to 20 different kinds of instruments. Large symphony orchestras can have a over a hundred musicians.

Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi