Musical Instruments in

Orchestra
 Musical Instrument

 Musical instrument, any device for producing a 

musical sound. The principal types of such
instruments, classified by the method of producing
sound, are percussion, stringed, keyboard, wind, and 
electronic.
 The sound produced by an instrument can be affected by many factors,
including the material from which the instrument is made, its size and
shape, and the way that it is played. For example, a stringed
instrumentmay be struck, plucked, or bowed, each method producing
a distinctive sound. A wooden instrument struck by a beater sounds
markedly different from a metal instrument, even if the two
instruments are otherwise identical. On the other hand, a flute made of
metal does not produce a substantially different sound from one made
of wood, for in this case the vibrations are in the column of air in the
instrument. The characteristic timbre of wind instruments depends on
other factors, notably the length and shape of the tube. The length of
the tube not only determines the pitch but also affects the timbre: the 
piccolo, being half the size of the flute, has a shriller sound. The shape
of the tube determines the presence or absence of the “upper
partials” (harmonic or nonharmonic overtones), which give colour to
the single note. 
 History

 Musical instruments are almost universal components of human culture:

archaeology has revealed pipes and whistles in the Paleolithic Period
 and clay drums and shell trumpets in the Neolithic Period. It has been
firmly established that the ancient city cultures of Mesopotamia, the
Mediterranean, India, East Asia, and the Americas all possessed diverse
 and well-developed assortments of musical instruments, indicating that
a long previous development must have existed. As to the origin of
musical instruments, however, there can be only conjecture. Some
scholars have speculated that the first instruments were derived from
such utilitarian objects as cooking pots (drums) and hunting bows
(musical bows); others have argued that instruments of music might
well have preceded pots and bows; while in the myths of cultures
throughout the world the origin of music has frequently been attributed
to the gods, especially in areas where music seems to have been
regarded as an essential component of the ritual believed necessary for
spiritual survival.
Families of Musical Instrument
 Musical instruments are grouped into families based on
how they make sounds. In an orchestra, musicians sit
together in these family groupings.
The String Family
 The String Family
 The strings are the largest family of instruments in the orchestra and they
come in four sizes: the violin, which is the smallest, viola, cello, and the
biggest, the double bass, sometimes called the contrabass. The smaller
instruments, the violin and viola, make higher-pitched sounds, while the
larger cello and double bass produce low rich sounds. They are all similarly
shaped, with curvy wooden bodies and wooden necks. The strings stretch
over the body and neck and attach to small decorative heads, where they are
tuned with small tuning pegs.
 The bodies of the string instruments, which are hollow inside to allow sound
to vibrate within them, are made of different kinds of wood, but the part of
the instrument that makes the sound is the strings, which are made of nylon,
steel or sometimes gut. The strings are played most often by drawing
a bow across them. The handle of the bow is made of wood and the strings
of the bow are actually horsehair from horses' tails! Sometimes the
musicians will use their fingers to pluck the strings, and occasionally they will
turn the bow upside down and play the strings with the wooden handle.
Violin

 The violin is the smallest and

highest-pitched of the string
instrument family. Violins are
important instruments in a wide
variety of musical genres - they are
most prominent in the Western
classical tradition and in many
varieties of folk music, however they
are also frequently used in country
music, jazz, and even rock music.
 Viola

 The viola is the middle voice of the

string family. It is slightly larger than
a violin and has a lower and deeper
sound than a violin. Since the 18th
century it has been the middle or alto
voice of the violin family, between
the violin (which is tuned a perfect
fifth above it) and the cello (which is
tuned an octave below it).
 Cello

 The cello, otherwise known as a

violoncello, is a bowed instrument
with four strings. It's a close cousin
of the violin, viola, and double bass. 

The cello can be played as a solo

instrument, as well as in chamber
music ensembles, string orchestras,
as a member of the string section of
symphony orchestras, and some
rock bands.
Double Bass

 The double bass or simply the bass

(and numerous other names) is the
largest and lowest-pitched bowed
string instrument in the modern
symphony orchestra. It is a transposing
instrument and is typically notated one
octave higher than sounding to avoid
excessive ledger lines below the staff.
The double bass is the only modern
bowed string instrument that is tuned
in fourths, rather than fifths. 
The Woodwind Family
 The Woodwind Family
 The instruments in this family all used to be made of wood, which gives
them their name. Today, they are made of wood, metal, plastic or some
combination. They are all basically narrow cylinders or pipes, with holes, an
opening at the bottom end and a mouthpiece at the top. You play them by
blowing air through the mouthpiece (that's the "wind" in "woodwind")
and opening or closing the holes with your fingers to change the pitch.
Metal caps called keys cover the holes of most woodwind instruments.
 The mouthpieces for some woodwinds, including the clarinet, oboe and
bassoon, use a thin piece of wood called a reed, which vibrates when you
blow across it. The clarinet uses a single reed made of one piece of wood,
while the oboe and bassoon use a double reed made of two pieces joined
together. Just as with the stringed instruments, the smaller woodwinds
play higher pitches while the longer and larger instruments play the lower
notes. The woodwind family of instruments includes, from the highest
sounding instruments to the lowest, the piccolo, flute, oboe, English
horn, clarinet, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon and contrabassoon.
Flute/Piccolo
 The flute is a family of musical
instruments in the woodwind group.
Unlike woodwind instruments with
reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless
wind instrument that produces its sound
from the flow of air across an opening.
 The sound is made by blowing a stream
of air over the mouthpiece (known as an
embouchure hole), and pressing down
on the instrument's keys. This changes
the pitch by opening and closing holes on
the instrument, creating higher or lower
notes. Varying the air flow into the
instrument can affect the pitch, volume,
and type of sound created. 
 Clarinet
 The clarinet is a musical instrument
belonging to the woodwind family. It
looks similar to an oboe, however it is a
single-reed instrument, as opposed to the
double-reed of an oboe, and has a very
different sound. There are many types of
clarinet, including the well-known B ♭
clarinet, the slightly less familiar E ♭, A,
and bass clarinets, as well as many others.
 The sound is made by blowing a stream of
air into the mouthpiece (known as
embouchure), and pressing down on the
instrument's keys.
 Oboe
 The oboe is a double-reed instrument and
member of the woodwind family. Oboes are
usually made of wood, but there are also
oboes made of synthetic materials. 

The oboe is commonly used in concert

bands, orchestras, chamber music, film
music, in some genres of folk music, and as a
solo instrument, and is occasionally heard in
jazz, rock music, pop music, and popular
music. Unlike the clarinet or saxophone, the
oboe uses a double reed. The sound is made
by blowing a stream of air into the
mouthpiece (known as embouchure), and
pressing down on the instrument's keys. 
Bassoon
 Bassoon is the principal bass instrument
of the orchestral woodwind family. The
bassoon’s reed is made by bending
double a shaped strip of cane. Its narrow
conical bore leads from the curved metal
crook, onto which the double reed is
placed, downward through the wing, or
tenor, joint (on which are the left-hand
finger holes) to the butt joint (on which
are the right-hand holes). The bore then
doubles back, ascending through the
butt to the long joint and bell, where the
holes are controlled by keywork for the
left thumb.
Saxophone
 Saxophone, any of a family of single-reed 
wind instruments ranging from soprano to
bass and characterized by a conical metal tube
and finger keys. The first saxophone was
patented by Antoine-Joseph Sax in Paris in
1846.
 A saxophone has a conical metal (originally
brass) tube with about 24 openings controlled
by padded keys; the mouthpiece is similar to
that of a clarinet. Two octave key vents allow
the instrument to overblow to a higher
register at the octave. Except for the
sopranino and one form of the B♭ soprano
saxophone, built straight like a clarinet,
saxophones have an upturned lower end and
a detachable crook, or neck, at the upper end.
The Brass Family
 The Brass Family
 This family of instruments can play louder than any other in the orchestra and
can also be heard from far away. Although their early ancestors are known to
have been made of wood, tusks, animal horns or shells, today's modern
instruments are made entirely of brass. Brass instruments are essentially very
long pipes that widen at their ends into a bell-like shape. The pipes have been
curved and twisted into different shapes to make them easier to hold and play.
 Like the woodwind family, brass players use their breath to produce sound,
but instead of blowing into a reed, you vibrate your own lips by buzzing them
against a metal cup-shaped mouthpiece. The mouthpiece helps to amplify the
buzzing of the lips, which creates the sound. Most brass instruments have
valves attached to their long pipes; the valves look like buttons. When you
press down on the valves, they open and close different parts of the pipe. You
change the pitch and sound by pressing different valves and buzzing your lips
harder or softer. The brass family members that are most commonly used in
the orchestra include the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and the tuba.
Trumpet
 The trumpet is the highest-pitched
instrument in the brass section. It is
also one of the oldest instruments,
with examples dating back to 1500BC.
 There are 2 to 4 trumpets in an
orchestra and they play both melody
and harmony and also support the
rhythm. You play the trumpet by
holding it horizontally, buzzing your
lips into the mouthpiece, and pressing
down the three valves in various
combinations to change pitch.
French Horn

 The French horn is a brass

instrument made of tubing
wrapped into a coil with a flared
bell.
 There are anywhere from 2 to
8 French horns in orchestra, and
they play both melody and
harmony as well as rhythm. To
play the French horn, hold it
with the bell curving downward
and buzz into the mouthpiece.
Trombone
 The trombone is the only instrument in the
brass family that uses a slide instead of valves
to change pitch. A standard trombone is made
of long thin brass pipes. Two U-shaped pipes
are linked at opposite ends to form an "S."
One pipe slides into the other so the total
length of the pipe can be extended or
shortened. You play the trombone by holding
it horizontally, buzzing into the mouthpiece,
and using your right hand to change pitch by
pushing or pulling the slide to one of seven
different positions. If you stretch the
trombone out straight, it is about 9 feet long.
There are usually 3 trombones in the orchestra
and they play pitches in the same range as the
cello and bassoon. The three trombones often
play harmonies together.
Baritone/Euphonium
 The baritone is a member of the brass
family. As with all brass instruments, the
sound is produced by buzzing the lips into
a mouthpiece. The baritone works in the
same manner as a trumpet but it’s twice
the length. It plays the exact same notes
as a trombone and even uses the same
mouthpiece.  The biggest difference is
that the baritone uses valves rather than
a slide to change the length of the air
flow. The baritone is played with the right
hand on the valves. The left arm usually
supports the bottom of the instrument.
Tuba/Sousaphone
 This is the grandfather of the brass family.
The tuba is the largest and lowest brass
instrument and anchors the harmony not only
of the brass family but the whole orchestra with
its deep rich sound. Like the other brasses, the
tuba is a long metal tube, curved into an oblong
shape, with a huge bell at the end. Tubas range
in size from 9 to 18 feet; the longer they are, the
lower they sound. Standard tubas have about
16 feet of tubing. There is generally only one
tuba in an orchestra and it usually plays
harmony. You play the tuba sitting down with
the instrument on your lap and the bell facing
up. You blow and buzz into a very large
mouthpiece and use your hand to press down
on the valves which changes the sound. It takes
a lot of breath to make sound with the tuba!
The Percussion Family
 The Percussion Family
 The percussion family is the largest in the orchestra. Percussion
instruments include any instrument that makes a sound when it is hit,
shaken, or scraped. It's not easy to be a percussionist because it takes a
lot of practice to hit an instrument with the right amount of strength, in
the right place and at the right time. Some percussion instruments are
tuned and can sound different notes, like
the xylophone, timpani or piano, and some are untuned with no definite
pitch, like the bass drum, cymbals or castanets. Percussion instruments
keep the rhythm, make special sounds and add excitement and color.
Unlike most of the other players in the orchestra, a percussionist will
usually play many different instruments in one piece of music. The most
common percussion instruments in the orchestra include
the timpani, xylophone, cymbals, triangle, snare drum, bass
drum, tambourine, maracas, gongs, chimes, celesta, and piano.
Snare Drum
 The snare drum is a smallish drum made of wood
or brass with drumheads made of calfskin or
plastic stretched over both ends of a hollow
cylinder. It has a set of wire-wrapped strings
stretched across the bottom head (the snare),
which give the snare drum its unique "rattling"
sound when the drum is hit. A small switch on the
side of the drum allows the player to turn the
snare on or off depending on the requirements of
the piece. The snare drum is an untuned drum, so
it doesn't sound distinct pitches. It is often used in
military music and is a central part of any marching
band. Snare drums are used to keep the rhythm
and make special sounds, such as drumrolls. You
play the snare drum by hitting the top with
drumsticks, mallets or brushes.
Timpani
 Timpani look like big polished bowls or upside-
down teakettles, which is why they're also called
kettledrums. They are big copper pots with
drumheads made of calfskin or plastic stretched
over their tops. Timpani are tuned instruments,
which means they can play different notes. The
timpanist changes the pitch by stretching or
loosening the drumheads, which are attached to
a foot pedal. Timpani are a central part of the
percussion family because they support rhythm,
melody and harmony. Most orchestras have four
timpani of different sizes and tuned to different
pitches and they are usually played by one
musician, who hits the drumheads with felt-
tipped mallets or wooden sticks. The timpani
player must have a very good ear because he/she
usually needs to change the pitches of the drums
during performances.
 
Xylophone/Marimba
 The xylophone originally came from Africa
and Asia, but has a Greek name that means
"wood sound." The modern xylophone has
wooden bars or keys arranged like the keys
of the piano, which the player hits with a
mallet. You can change the quality of the
pitch by using different kinds of mallets (hard
or soft), and by hitting the wooden bars in
different ways. Attached to the bottom of
the wooden bars are metal tubes called
resonators, where the sound vibrates. This
gives the xylophone its bright bell-like sound.
 There are several other instruments similar
to the xylophone, which are also part of the
percussion family. They include the marimba,
a larger version of a xylophone with wood or
plastic resonators attached to the bottom of
the wooden keys, which give it a mellower,
more rounded sound.
Cymbals

 Cymbals are the biggest noisemakers of

the orchestra. They are two large metal
discs, usually made of spun bronze.
Cymbals, which are untuned, come in a
range of sizes, from quite small to very
large. The larger the cymbal, the lower the
sound they make. Cymbals can be used for
drama and excitement, to accent the
rhythm or create delicate sound effects.
You can play the cymbals either by hitting
one cymbal against the other, or you can
use sticks, mallets or brushes to hit one or
both cymbals.