A sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments.
4
votes
3answers
130 views
What does one slash through a half note stem AND 4 dots above it mean? [duplicate]
In a version of "Overture to Lucio Silla" by Mozart, half of the viola part of the song has half notes with a SINGLE slash through it, but 4 dots on the base part of every not (The circular part). ...
20
votes
5answers
2k views
Why are orchestras tuned differently?
In 1936 American Standards Association (and the International Organization for Standardization in 1955) accepted that A would be tuned at 440 Hz (or cycles per second). Yet despite the fact that a ...
17
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the difference between a “band” and an “orchestra”
Growing up, my father listened to big band music. These bands are usually referred to as "Glenn Miller and his orchestra" Or "Paul Schaeffer and the CBS Orchestra". Is it that an orchestra has ...
5
votes
2answers
58 views
Orchestral strings disposition (numeration meaning)
It's going to be the first time I'll be trying to compose a piece to be played by an orchestra and I don't know much about orchestral strings numeration/disposition.
I just ran into this Composers ...
3
votes
1answer
171 views
Are “The Carnival of the Animals” and “Danse Macabre” the same piece?
I wonder if "The Carnival of the Animals" and "Danse Macabre" are the same piece? Why are they named differently?
9
votes
5answers
961 views
Performance practice of Viennese Waltz
Occasionally, when I listen to an orchestra playing a Strauss waltz or something similar, I hear something interesting in the background rhythm of 'boom chik chik' in that the first 'chik' happens ...
3
votes
2answers
106 views
How important is harmony theory?
In what way does matter for the overall sound of the orchestra that everyone is aware of how the chord is placed, more than just knowing their own part in it?
I play trombone in what I believe is ...
1
vote
1answer
185 views
Which set of books could I read to become an advanced conductor?
I would like a list of three to ten books to learn all there is to know about conducting.
Please be concise, try to cover all the stages from a beginner conductor (but already an experienced adult ...
1
vote
1answer
78 views
Why are we worse in the second half and how might we fix that?
I play second violin in a local amateur orchestra. When we play concerts we always seem slightly worse in the second half. Why? I'm not sure if it's because we all breath a collective sigh of relief ...
9
votes
2answers
195 views
Could a group of musicians play a new piece by sight-reading on first attempt?
Is it possible, without any rehearsal, relying solely on sight-reading?
Are there any experiments of this kind with octets, nonets, maytbe entire orchestras?
31
votes
4answers
4k views
What does a conductor actually do?
Looking for the roles of the conductor during a musical performance, I mainly came across answers as the following, taken from Wikipedia:
"The primary duties of the conductor are to unify ...
5
votes
1answer
119 views
How does Ballet music differ from an Orchestral Suite of the same name?
Now, I've loved Stravinsky's music, ever since 10th grade music appreciation class when we learned that Le Sacre Du Printemps caused a riot at its first public performance. But I discovered to my ...
3
votes
2answers
440 views
Orchestra warmup sounds
Background: I am guitar player who do not now anything about tuning other instruments and classical music traditions
I really love sound of warming up (and final tuning) of an orchestra. They are ...
8
votes
4answers
729 views
What are good sources for free orchestra scores?
Are there usable free sources for (symphonic) orchestra scores?
I'm talking about legal sources for pieces that are now in public domain.
