Instruments of the Orchestra

Flashcards in vocabulary style based on lecture notes about instruments in an orchestra.

Orchestra/Symphony Orchestra

The largest instrumental group used to make music.

Orchestra Sections

The four sections of instruments in an orchestra: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

String Family

The largest family of instruments in the orchestra, including the violin, viola, cello, and double bass.

Violin

Smallest of the string family. In the orchestra, these are divided into two groups: first and second.

Viola

Slightly larger than the violin, with thicker strings, producing a richer, warmer sound.

Cello

Looks like the violin and viola but is much larger. It is played sitting down with the body of the instrument between the knees.

Double Bass (Contrabass)

The biggest member of the string family, with the longest strings, which allow it to play very low notes.

Harp

The only plucked-string instrument that is a member of the orchestra, typically having 47 strings.

Arco

Playing a stringed instrument with a bow (a wooden stick with horse-hair stretched tightly along it) which makes the string vibrate.

Pizzicato

Plucking the strings of a stringed instrument with the finger-tips.

Ostinato

A repeating rhythmic pattern.

Duet

When two musicians play together.

Woodwind Instruments

Musical instruments that produce sound by blowing air into a cylindrical body.

Woodwind Pitch Change

Opening and closing holes along the instrument's length to change the pitch.

Air Blown Across Hole

Requires air to be blown across a small hole in the mouthpiece to produce a sound. Example: Flute.

Single Reed

Having a single reed clamped to a mouthpiece at the top of the instrument. Example: Clarinet.

Double Reed

Using two reeds tied together, which vibrate when air is forced between them. Example: Oboe and Bassoon.

Saxophone

Is NOT part of the standard orchestra and is only added when specific tonal colors are required.

Improvisation

Creating music as one performs.

Swing

A feeling of ‘lilt’.

Syncopation

Accenting the weak or “off” beat.

Brass Instruments

The vibration is created by the lips of the musician. By pressing the lips up against the mouthpiece and blowing, a vibration is created.

French Horn

Derived from a large circular hunting horn that appeared in France about 1650.

Trumpet

The smallest of brass instruments in the orchestra and has the highest register in the brass family.

Trombone

Allows the player to extend the length of the air column, lowering the pitch.

Sackbut

The Renaissance period name for a trombone.

Tuba

The bass instrument of the brass section, typically playing the bass line.

Mutes (Brass Instruments)

Used to soften and change the quality of the sound of a brass instrument. Placed into the flared end at the bell.

Natural Trumpets

Early trumpets with no valves. Players had to control the pitch of the sound with only his mouth, which was very difficult.

Jazz

Where important characteristics are improvisation (creating music as one performs), swing, and syncopation.

Percussion Instrument

Instrument makes a sound when it is hit, shaken, or scraped.

Tuned Percussion Instrument

Percussion instrument is able to play specific pitches. For example, xylophone.

Un-Pitched Percussion Instrument

Percussion instrument cannot play a melody only rhythms.