Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Music Appreciation :: essays research papers
     The musicians are divided into four main groups called sections: (1) the string section, (2) the woodwind section, (3) the brass section, (4) and the percussion section. The various instruments in the string, woodwind, and brass section are pitched in different ranges, like voices in a choir. In the following discussion, the instruments in each of these sections are listed in the order from those of the highest range to those of the lowest. Some percussion instruments are also tuned to definite pitches, but most of them have an indefinite pitch.      The string section is the heart of a symphony orchestra. It has more than half of the musicians and consists of from 20 to 32 violins, 8 to 10 violas, 8 to 10 cellos, and 6 to 10 string basses. The violinists are divided into two groups of equal size. The first violins play the highest-pitched part in the string section, and the second violin play the next highest. The leading first violinist serves as concertmaster of the orchestra. the concertmaster directs the other musicians in tuning their instruments and may also be the orchestra’s assistant conductor.      The woodwind section consists chiefly of flutes, oboes, clarinets, and bassoons. An orchestra has from 2 to 4 of each of these instruments. The musicians in this section also play various other woodwind instruments when a score requires them to do so.      The brass section consists of 2 to 5 trumpets, 2 to 8 French horns, 2 to 4 trombones, and 1 tuba.      The percussion section includes two or more timpani, or kettle drums,; bells and cymbals; wood blocks; and bass drum, gong, snare drum, triangle, tambourine and xylophone.      The conductor knows that each of these sections are crucial to the sound necessary for the score, therefore, he or she designs the seating arrangement to produce a certain blend of sounds. The basic seating arrangements are as follows: the strings form a semicircle around the conductor; the woodwind instruments are arranged in the center, with the percussion and brass sections at the rear.      The musicians have many responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities are to be prepared to work hard to achieve the perfection that the conductor needs to make the score sound right, be prepared and on time to all rehearsals, to behave appropriately at a concert and rehearsals to insure that the conductor has their total attention and the musicians are focused, and, ultimately, listen to the conductor’s instructions. They must remember that the conductor is the person in charge, and, although they may not always agree with the way that he or she feels about the music, they are to play their
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