Music - Chapter 10 - The Orchestra

Orchestra

A big group of musicians playing a lot of different instruments

Violin

The smallest string instrument in the orchestra

Viola

The second smallest string instrument in the orchestra

Cello

The second largest string instrument in the orchestra

Double Bass

The largest string instrument in the orchestra

Harp

The fifth member of the orchestral string family that comes in many sizes. Concert versions generally have 47 strings

Bow

A long partially curved rod with horsehair stretched along its length, used to play stringed instruments

Valves

Opens and closes to allow air into certain parts of brass instruments, which then produce different pitches

Trumpet

The smallest and highest pitched brass instrument in the orchestra

French Horn

The second smallest brass instrument in the orchestra

Trombone

The second largest brass instrument in the orchestra

Tuba

The largest and lowest pitched brass instrument in the orchestra

Arco

To play a string instrument with a bow

Pizzicato

To play a string instrument with your fingers

Reed

A small piece of bamboo in the mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument

Flautist

Someone who plays a flute

Flute

Generally the smallest and highest pitched woodwind instrument, but it has wide range of pitches, which are controlled by around 16 keys. The only woodwind instrument without a reed

Clarinet

A single-reed woodwind instrument with a wide range of pitches controlled with keys. Often used in jazz music

Oboe

A double-reed woodwind instrument almost identical to the clarinet. Helps tune the orchestra before a performance

Bassoon

The largest and lowest-pitched woodwind instrument. Has a double-reed

Mallets

Long-handled sticks with soft ball-shaped heads that are used to play percussion instruments

Tuned Percussion Instruments

Percussion instruments that can play different pitches

Untuned Percussion Instruments

Percussion instruments that can only play one pitch

Timpani

A large drum, also known kettle drums. Tuned percussion instrument that can play one note at a time

Xylophone

A tuned percussion instrument similar to a piano. Its keys are made with wood, and are hit with a mallet to produce different pitches

Triangle

An untuned percussion instrument shaped like a metal triangle. Played with a small metal mallet

Cymbal

A pair of thin round plates. An untuned percussion instrument