LEARNING ABOUT CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA

LEARNING ABOUT CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA

1. WOODWIND

   • IN THE CLASSICAL PERIOD, ALTHOUGH THE STRINGS WERE STILL THE BACKBONE OF THE ORCHESTRA, THE WOODWIND BECAME MORE IMPORTANT AND FORMED ITS OWN SECTION IN THE ORCHESTRA
   • USUALLY THERE WOULD BE TWO FLUTES, TWO OBOES, TWO BASSOONS AND LATER TWO CLARINETS.

2. BRASS

   • STILL PROMINENT
   • THIS SECTION WOULD USUALLY CONTAIN TRUMPETS AND FRENCH HORNS
   • TROMBONES ADDED LATER ON DURING THE CLASSICAL PERIOD

3. PERCUSSION

   • REMAINED FAIRLY STRAIGHT FORWARD WITH THE TIMPANI
   • CONTINUO PLAYER NO LONGER CONSIDERED NECESSARY AND THE ORCHESTRA WAS FOR THE FIRST TIME DIRECTED FROM THE FRONT BY A CONDUCTOR

4. NO MORE HARPSICHORD

5. FLUTES AND CLARINETS ADDED

6. FOREIGN - ENGLISH NAMES

   • OBOI - OBOE
   • CORNI IN Es - Eb HORN
   • CORNO PRINCIPALE IN Es - SOLO Eb HORN
   • VIOLINO I. - 1ST VIOLINS
   • VIOLINO II. - 2ND VIOLINS
   • VIOLA - VIOLA
   • VIOLONCELLO E BASSO - CELLO AND DOUBLE BASS