12th Grade Music LiteratureMr. Welker

Orchestra Seating Chart

The String FamilyThe String Family

ViolinViolin The violin is the smallest of The violin is the smallest of

the string family.the string family. The violin was created The violin was created

around 1500 in Italy.around 1500 in Italy. The instrument is played The instrument is played

with a bow across the with a bow across the strings but also can be strings but also can be plucked when indicated.plucked when indicated.

Range: From G below Range: From G below middle C to G four octaves middle C to G four octaves above middle C above middle C

THE VIOLIN!THE VIOLIN!

ViolaViola

The viola was created around The viola was created around 1530 to support the violin’s 1530 to support the violin’s higher range.higher range.

It is slightly larger than the It is slightly larger than the violin and somewhat harder to violin and somewhat harder to play.play.

There are very few viola There are very few viola players in the music businessplayers in the music business

Range: Begins at 1 octave Range: Begins at 1 octave below middle, and goes up below middle, and goes up three octaves and a third to E. three octaves and a third to E.

THE VIOLA!THE VIOLA!

CelloCello The cello was created The cello was created

originally only having 3 strings.originally only having 3 strings. This string instrument is This string instrument is

supported by a peg that rests supported by a peg that rests on the floor.on the floor.

The cello is approximately 4ft. The cello is approximately 4ft. tall and weighs about 22 lbs.tall and weighs about 22 lbs.

Range: From C two octaves Range: From C two octaves below middle C to E an octave below middle C to E an octave above middle C. above middle C.

THE CELLO!THE CELLO!

Double-BassDouble-Bass

This instrument is the This instrument is the biggest and lowest sounding biggest and lowest sounding of the string family.of the string family.

It stands around 6 ft. tall and It stands around 6 ft. tall and usually is played when usually is played when standing or sitting on a stoolstanding or sitting on a stool

Range: Begins at the E just Range: Begins at the E just below 2 octaves below below 2 octaves below middle C, and goes up two middle C, and goes up two octaves and a third to the G octaves and a third to the G just below middle C. just below middle C.

THE DOUBLE-BASS!THE DOUBLE-BASS!

The Woodwind The Woodwind FamilyFamily

Flute/PiccoloFlute/Piccolo

The flute was originally made from The flute was originally made from bones.bones.

It now is made from metal, even It now is made from metal, even though it is part of the woodwind though it is part of the woodwind family.family.

This instrument is held parallel to This instrument is held parallel to the ground and you blow across a the ground and you blow across a hole in the of it much like a coke hole in the of it much like a coke bottle.bottle.

The piccolo is a smaller version of The piccolo is a smaller version of the flute and can extend past the the flute and can extend past the range of a flute.range of a flute.

Range: From middle C up three Range: From middle C up three octaves. The piccolo is pitched an octaves. The piccolo is pitched an octave higher. octave higher.

THE FLUTE AND PICCOLO!THE FLUTE AND PICCOLO!

ClarinetClarinet

The clarinet is the most The clarinet is the most important of the important of the woodwinds in the woodwinds in the orchestra.orchestra.

It has 18 holes that help It has 18 holes that help make the pitch on this make the pitch on this instrument.instrument.

This instrument is played This instrument is played with a single wooden reed with a single wooden reed on the mouthpiece.on the mouthpiece.

Range: The clarinet range Range: The clarinet range is from E below middle C to is from E below middle C to A three and one-half A three and one-half octaves above middle C. octaves above middle C.

THE CLARINET!THE CLARINET!

OboeOboe

The oboe began as a instrument The oboe began as a instrument used by hunters in the mid used by hunters in the mid 1600’s.1600’s.

Over the past 300 years it has Over the past 300 years it has become more modern and become more modern and suitable for today’s ensembles.suitable for today’s ensembles.

The oboe is a double-reed The oboe is a double-reed instrument and is played by instrument and is played by forcing air through the reeds forcing air through the reeds creating vibrations.creating vibrations.

Range: The oboe’s range goes Range: The oboe’s range goes from just below middle C, going from just below middle C, going up two octaves. up two octaves.

THE OBOE!THE OBOE!

BassoonBassoon

The bassoon is the lowest and largest The bassoon is the lowest and largest of the woodwind family.of the woodwind family.

It, like the oboe, is played with a It, like the oboe, is played with a double-reed but produces a much double-reed but produces a much lower and different sound.lower and different sound.

When the bassoon first became known When the bassoon first became known in 1650 it only had 4-8 keys. in 1650 it only had 4-8 keys.

The bassoon also has other members The bassoon also has other members of it’s family such as the of it’s family such as the contrabassoon and double bassoon contrabassoon and double bassoon which extend the lower register of the which extend the lower register of the horn.horn.

Range: The range for the bassoon is Range: The range for the bassoon is from B-flat  two octaves below middle from B-flat  two octaves below middle C to C an octave above middle C. C to C an octave above middle C.

THE BASSOON!THE BASSOON!

The Brass FamilyThe Brass Family

TrumpetTrumpet Trumpets originally were used during Trumpets originally were used during

battles. Soldiers would use trumpet battles. Soldiers would use trumpet calls to know what to do in the field of calls to know what to do in the field of battle.battle.

In 1820 valves were added to the In 1820 valves were added to the trumpet to allow the instrument to play trumpet to allow the instrument to play more notes.more notes.

There are many different types of There are many different types of trumpet but the most popular are the trumpet but the most popular are the ones pitched in C and Bb.ones pitched in C and Bb.

Range: From F sharp one octave below Range: From F sharp one octave below middle C to C two octaves above middle C to C two octaves above middle C. middle C.

THE TRUMPET!THE TRUMPET!

French HornFrench Horn

The French horn is often considered The French horn is often considered the leader of the brass section in the leader of the brass section in orchestras.orchestras.

When it was first created it was When it was first created it was never played indoors because it was never played indoors because it was considered to have to harsh of a considered to have to harsh of a sound quality.sound quality.

The French horn unlike the trumpet The French horn unlike the trumpet has rotary valves. has rotary valves.

Range: From G two octaves below Range: From G two octaves below middle C to F one octave above middle C to F one octave above middle C. middle C.

THE FRENCH HORN!THE FRENCH HORN!

TromboneTrombone

The trombone started in medieval The trombone started in medieval times as a sackbut (smaller than times as a sackbut (smaller than modern trombone).modern trombone).

It unlike all other instruments is It unlike all other instruments is played with a slide rather than played with a slide rather than keys or valves.keys or valves.

The trombone is a very versatile The trombone is a very versatile instrument. It can be found in jazz instrument. It can be found in jazz ensembles, concert bands, and ensembles, concert bands, and orchestras.orchestras.

There are 3 main types of There are 3 main types of trombones. They are the alto trombones. They are the alto trombone, tenor trombone, and trombone, tenor trombone, and bass trombone.bass trombone.

Range: From E two octave below Range: From E two octave below middle C to B flat above middle C. middle C to B flat above middle C.

THE TROMBONE!THE TROMBONE!

TubaTuba The tuba was created in Germany The tuba was created in Germany

by famous composer Richard by famous composer Richard Wagner.Wagner.

The creation of the tuba helped to The creation of the tuba helped to expand the lower range of the expand the lower range of the orchestra and made it much easier orchestra and made it much easier for composition.for composition.

The tuba is known as the big The tuba is known as the big boomer due to this lower register of boomer due to this lower register of range.range.

The tuba comes in many different The tuba comes in many different keys and sizes unlike most other keys and sizes unlike most other instruments.instruments.

Usually in an orchestra there is only Usually in an orchestra there is only one tuba to help out with the one tuba to help out with the double-bassists.double-bassists.

Range: From F two octaves below Range: From F two octaves below middle C to F above middle C. middle C to F above middle C.

THE TUBA!THE TUBA!

The Percussion FamilyThe Percussion Family

Snare DrumSnare Drum

There are two heads on There are two heads on a snare drum. The a snare drum. The bottom head has strips bottom head has strips of metal under it that of metal under it that can be turned off and can be turned off and on for different on for different qualities.qualities.

The snare drum is a The snare drum is a very important part of very important part of a marching band, drum a marching band, drum set, or concert band.set, or concert band.

THE SNARE DRUM!THE SNARE DRUM!

Bass DrumBass Drum

The bass drum is the The bass drum is the lowest drum in the lowest drum in the percussion family.percussion family.

This drum is played This drum is played with a large lamb skin with a large lamb skin mallet.mallet.

It is known for being the It is known for being the heart beat and pulse of heart beat and pulse of the orchestra.the orchestra.

It’s main purpose is to It’s main purpose is to rhythms and keep the rhythms and keep the time with the conductor.time with the conductor.

Timpani Timpani The timpani is also known The timpani is also known

as the kettle drum and the as the kettle drum and the king of the percussion king of the percussion section.section.

They are shaped like a big They are shaped like a big pot and were first made for pot and were first made for the Hungarian Calvary.the Hungarian Calvary.

Originally they were worn Originally they were worn on men riding horses and on men riding horses and were made out of copper were made out of copper soup kettles.soup kettles.

The timpani unlike most The timpani unlike most drums can be tuned to drums can be tuned to multiple pitches by a pedal.multiple pitches by a pedal.

THE TIMPANI!THE TIMPANI!

CymbalsCymbals Cymbals add a different color to Cymbals add a different color to

the percussion sound.the percussion sound. They are made of copper and They are made of copper and

are either struck together or are either struck together or rolled on by mallets.rolled on by mallets.

The cymbal is most known for The cymbal is most known for its crash sound or its its crash sound or its shimmering rollshimmering roll

Many people consider the Many people consider the cymbals and their family to be cymbals and their family to be part of a “kitchen sink.”part of a “kitchen sink.”

There are many different types There are many different types of cymbals such as the ride of cymbals such as the ride cymbal, crash cymbal, and cymbal, crash cymbal, and suspended cymbal.suspended cymbal.

THE CYMBAL!THE CYMBAL!

XylophoneXylophone

The xylophone, like the timpani, The xylophone, like the timpani, is a tuned percussion instrument.is a tuned percussion instrument.

They hold the best pitch out of all They hold the best pitch out of all the percussion instruments.the percussion instruments.

The xylophone is not a drum and The xylophone is not a drum and does not have heads but does does not have heads but does have wood slabs across the top have wood slabs across the top that make the pitch.that make the pitch.

The xylophone also has another The xylophone also has another member of its family known as member of its family known as the marimba which has a more the marimba which has a more mellow and darker sound.mellow and darker sound.

THE XYLOPHONE!THE XYLOPHONE!

PianoPiano The piano is the most The piano is the most

complete instrument in the complete instrument in the orchestra.orchestra.

It is considered percussion It is considered percussion because there is a hammer because there is a hammer that strikes a string to make that strikes a string to make all the pitches.all the pitches.

The piano unlike most other The piano unlike most other instruments is able to play instruments is able to play chords and multiple notes chords and multiple notes at a time.at a time.

The piano has three pedals The piano has three pedals on the bottom that have on the bottom that have different actions to make different actions to make the piano have many the piano have many different effects.different effects.

Range: EVERYTHING!Range: EVERYTHING! THE PIANO!THE PIANO!

TheThe OrchestraOrchestra

Reference

• Energy In The Air: Sounds From The Orchestra. Feb. 1999. <http://library.thinkquest.org/5116/>.