The symphony orchestra includes acoustic instruments traditionally used in academic music. The composition of the orchestra, as a rule, is unchanged, but other instruments can also be used to embody the creative idea.
Instructions
Step 1
The first group of instruments of a symphony orchestra, the most extensive and probably the most recognizable, is the stringed bowed instruments. This includes violins, violas and cellos, which are usually on the “front line” during a concert, right in front of the conductor, as well as double basses. All of these instruments are a wooden deck with strings stretched over the top and played with a bow. The shape of the soundboard is the same for all representatives of this musical "family", its size and, accordingly, the height of the sound emitted differ. The violin has the highest tuning and at the same time is the most important instrument in a symphony orchestra. A little lower in sound is the viola, and then the cello. The lowest sound has a contrabass, which usually acts as a rhythm section, as opposed to a solo violin.
Step 2
Woodwind instruments are instruments, the principle of sound production of which is based on the vibration of air in a hollow tube, where the pitch of the sound is changed with the help of valves. Despite the name, modern representatives of this group can be made not of wood at all, but of metal, polymer materials, or even glass. For example, orchestral flutes are usually made of an alloy, which can include precious metals. They are accompanied by an oboe, a clarinet and the lowest-sounding woodwind instrument - the bassoon. Outwardly, as a rule, all of them are long tubes with valves-holes on top, into which the musician delivers air directly from his lungs. This group also includes a saxophone, but it is not a traditional instrument of a symphony orchestra.
Step 3
By the principle of sound production, brass instruments are similar to their "wooden" counterparts, although they differ from them outwardly. In addition, all instruments of this group have a loud and bright sound, due to which they have rather limited use in a symphony orchestra and are not always fully represented in it. Most often, the traditional composition includes a trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba.
Step 4
The rhythm section of the symphony orchestra is represented by a group of percussion instruments. It includes xylophones, triangles, and other noise instruments, but most often two representatives of this "family" can be found in the orchestra. Timpani are large metal drums covered with a membrane, on which the performer strikes with special sticks. Cymbals are also used - metal discs that the musician holds in his hands and hits each other. In fact, during a concert, both of these instruments may sound only once, but this will undoubtedly be a very intense part, the culmination of the piece.
Step 5
Sometimes other instruments may appear as part of a symphony orchestra. Depending on the creative intention of the author or arranger, a harp, an extended composition of brass or percussion, keyboards (piano, harpsichord) or organ can be added to the traditional set at a concert. In modern variations of symphonic music, one can hear very specific instruments for this genre, from Irish bagpipes to an electric guitar, but, as a rule, they are not directly part of the orchestra.
