ORCHESTRA HISTORY

An ORCHESTRA is a large musical ensemble combining instruments from which families?

• Strings

• Woodwinds

• Brass

• Percussion

A full sized Western Orchestra may sometimes be called a ___________ or __________ orchestra

• chamber or opera

• symphony or philharmonic

• film score or ensemble

• large or larger

Answer explanation

The number of musicians could be anywhere from 70 to 100 musicians.

A smaller orchestra may be called a CHAMBER ORCHESTRA.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

Mozart's Eine Kleine is written for a chamber orchestra.

An orchestra is led by a _______________.

The performing leader of the first violin section is called the _____________.

• lead dude or dudette

• soloist

• conductor

• concertmaster

Answer explanation

The concertmaster plays an important role in leading the musicians in the orchestra.

Orchestras are limited to only playing a small range of repertoire.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

Orchestras play a wide range of repertoire, including symphonies, opera and ballet overtures, and concertos for solo instruments just to name a few.

The term orchestra derives from the Greek ὀρχήστρα. What is that word attributed to in ancient Greece?

• a group of god-like musicians that played for Apollo

• a collection of instruments that guys in white robes and leaves in their hair played

• a type of Greek architecture

• area in front of the stage in ancient Greek Theater

Answer explanation

I seriously hope you did not choose A.

The orchestra was first developed primarily in the Baroque Era(1600-1750) of music history.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

The term "baroque" comes from the Portuguese word barroco, meaning "misshapen pearl"

The Baroque Orchestra ranged from ______ player(s) per part to ________ players.

• 1 to 10

• 6 to 14

• one to many

• None of these

Answer explanation

Watch the video.

In the Classical Era(1750-1825) it became the orchestra became more standardized with a larger string section, a core wind section, sometimes supplemented with _____.

• saxes, lutes, and sakbuts

• dulcimers, harmonicas, and lyres

• percussion, clarinets, and trumpets

• electric guitars, drum sets, and synthesizers

Answer explanation

Electricity wasn't used until 1882!