ORKESTRASI-(WEEK 2)

CM33301
BY IAN STEPHEN BAXTER

WHY STUDY ORCHESTRATION?

NEED TO KNOW NAMES OF INSTRUMENTS &

ORCHESTRAL TERMS
RANGES OF INSTRUMENTS.
PROPER NOTATION-TRANSPOSTION & SPECIAL CLEFS
PRINCIPLES OF COMBINING & BALANCING
INSTRUMENTS
ORDER OF INSTRUMENTS ON THE PAGE.
THE CHARCTERISTICS TONE QUALITY OF ECH
INSTRUMENT
THE SOUND OF VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS COMBINE
SOUND OF SPECIAL EFFECTS

ORCHESTRA HISTORY

The first appearance of an 'orchestra' in the

Western World was in approximately the
6th Century B.C. in Ancient Greece, but no
musical instruments were involved. The
word 'orchestra' denoted a large
semicircular space for dancing in Attic, or
Greek, theatre. The chorus in Greek theatre
was vital to both plot and dramatic action,
providing a commentary and dialogue with
the main characters in the drama. They
stood in the orchestra area, and both sang
and danced.

BRIEF HISTORY

Although the term 'classical' is commonly used to describe all orchestral music, in
European musicology it has a quite specific meaning, referring to the period between
about 1750 and 1820. By the end of the 18th Century, the instrumental line-up of the
orchestra had become standardised as follows:
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets
2 Bassoons
2 (or 4) Horns
2 Trumpets
Timpani
Strings
The continuo favoured by Baroque orchestras was abandoned and keyboard
instruments disappeared. String sections would vary in size but the minimum numbers
were reckoned to be 6 first violins, 6 seconds, 4 violas, 4 cellos and 3 double basses,
whereas the maximum could be as many as 28 violins in total, with a corresponding
increase in the number of other strings.).
The classical orchestra became one of the major vehicles for the increased interest in
formal clarity and development during this period. The new approach to composition
also allowed for the development of some strong orchestral effects. These first appear
in the works of Johan Stamitz, and the rest of the Mannheim school of composers, with
their 'sky rockets' (an upward leaping arpeggio) and 'sighs' (a falling phrase). The three
major figures of the Classical period, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, developed
orchestral composition to the point where the orchestra became the grandest and most
powerful tool of musical expression.

CONTINUATION

Haydn experimented with several additions to

the standard line-up, including trombones
and contrabassoon. Mozart tended to work
with the standard orchestra, concentrating on
refining its musical possibilities. Beethoven,
of course, was greatly influenced by the
technological innovation of the pianoforte and
the dramatic qualities of that instrument
were often reflected in the way he handled
the orchestra. From his Fifth Symphony
onwards, trombones were established as
regular orchestral members.

BAROQUE PERIOD COMPOSERS

ANTONIO VIVALDI-4 SEASONS

TOMASO ALBINONI-ADAGIO FOR
ORGAN & STRINGS
JOHANN S. BACH-MASS IN B MINOR

ROMANTIC PERIOD COMPOSERS

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

PAGANINI
SCHUBERT
JOHANN STRAUSS
FELIX MENDELSSCHON
FREDERIC CHOPIN

19TH CENTURY ORCHESTRA

WELL KNOWN COMPOSERS:

RICHARD WAGNER (1813-1883)
HECTOR BERLIOZ (1803-1869)
G. MAHLER (1860-1911)-SYMPHONY
NO.5 IN C# MINOR

20TH CENTURY COMPOSERS

IGOR STRAVINSKY
MAURICE RAVEL
ARNOLD SCHOENBERG
ANTON WEBERN

ORCHESTRA
INSTRUMENTATION

2 Flutes (one doubling piccolo)

2 Oboes (one doubling English Horn)
2 Clarinets (doubling on A, Bb, C, and Eb clarinets)
4 Bassoons
4 Horns
2 Cornets
2 Trumpets
3 Trombones
2 Ophicleides (obsolete bass brass instruments)
Timpani
Percussion (including Bass Drum, Snare Drum,
Cymbals and Bells)
2 Harps
Strings
Berlioz scored Symphonie Fantastique (1830)

OPHICLEIDES

POST HORN

ORCHESTRA
INSTRUMENTATION

4 Flutes (two doubling piccolo)

4 Oboes (one doubling English Horn)
3 Clarinets (one doubling bass clarinet)
2 Clarinets in Eb
4 Bassoons (one doubling contrabassoon)
8 Horns
4 Trumpets
Posthorn (offstage)
4 trombones
Bass Tuba
Contrabass Tuba
Timpani
Percussion (including Bells, Glockenspiel, Snare drum)
2 Harps
Strings
1895/6, Mahler composed his Symphony No. 3 for
solo alto voice, female chorus, boys' chorus

ASSIGNMENT

WRITE A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF

CLASSICAL, ROMANTIC AND 20TH
CENTURY ORCHESTRA.
USE THE (UMS) LIBRARY