ORCHESTRA

Orchestra is a group of musicians who play together on various instruments. Some African and Asian orchestras consist entirely of percussion instruments, such as drums, gongs, and xylophones. But in most Western nations, a musical group is considered an orchestra only if it includes violins and other stringed instruments. An orchestra differs from a band, which consists chiefly of wind and percussion instruments.

Some orchestras, called string orchestras, have only stringed instruments. On the other hand, dance orchestras resemble bands in most ways but may include a small string section. The word orchestra generally refers to a symphony orchestra, which consists mainly of stringed instruments. Symphony orchestras also have woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments, which enable them to produce a full range of musical sounds.

Symphony orchestras play all types of music, but most of them specialize in classical works. An orchestra may perform alone, or it may accompany one or more instrumental or vocal soloists or a chorus. Orchestras also accompany ballets and operas and provide background music for motion pictures and television productions.

Some symphony orchestras are made up entirely of professional musicians. Most of the world's major cities have a professional symphony, and some cities have several. They include such large, well-known orchestras as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the London Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Vienna Philharmonic. Many smaller communities, especially in Western countries, also have a symphony orchestra. These orchestras consist chiefly of amateur musicians. Many schools in Western countries have student orchestras.

Most Western orchestras consist of wind and percussion instruments only.
Dance orchestras are musical groups which can include string instruments.
We sometimes use the word orchestra to speak about symphony orchestra.
Only professional musicians can play in a symphony orchestra.
Symphony music can be heard in the theatre.
Only gongs, drums and xylophones are played in African and Asian orchestras.

Ex.15.In the text you have read find English equivalents of the Ukrainian word and phrases connected with orchestras.

1. акомпанувати

2. велика різноманітність звуків

3. соліст

4. непрофесійний музикант

5. спеціалізуватися

6. фонова музика

Ex.16.& Read the text briefly.

The structure of a symphony orchestra

Orchestral music is written in the form of a score, which shows the notes to be played by each instrument.

Most scores call for about the same kinds of instruments, and so most orchestras have a similar structure. A typical orchestra has about 20 kinds of instruments, but the number of each varies among different groups. A large orchestra may have more than 100 musicians, and small orchestras have from about 15 to 40 players. The small groups are often called chamber orchestras. During a performance, only the conductor follows the complete score. The printed music used by the musicians shows only their individual parts.

The musicians are divided into four main groups called sections: (1) the string section, (2) the woodwind section, (3) the brass section, and (4) the percussion section. The various instruments in the string, woodwind, and brass sections are pitched in different ranges, like the voices in a chorus. In the following discussion, the instruments in each of these sections are listed in 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 has more than half 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 violins play the next highest part. 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 the section also play various other woodwind instruments when a score requires them to do so. For example, a flutist may switch to the piccolo, and an oboe player may double on the English horn.

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 a bass drum, gong, snare drum, triangle, tambourine, and xylophone.

Other instruments are added to an orchestra if a score calls for them. They include such instruments as the harp, harpsichord, organ, piano, synthesizer, and various saxophones.

The conductor directs the musicians by keeping time with the batonor with his or her hands, and by means of gestures and facial expressions. However, conductors do their most important work before a performance –and even before rehearsing a composition. In most cases, the conductor selects the music to be played at a concert. After selecting a work, the conductor's first job is to interpret the music by deciding exactly how it should be played. Interpretation of a work includes such elements as tempo, tonal quality, and phrasing. After determining these features of the score, the conductor rehearses the music with the players.

During a rehearsal, the conductor asks individual musicians or sections to play various parts of the score again and again until the desired effect has been achieved. He or she strives for the correct balance among the many instruments playing at the same time and adjusts the sound to suit the acoustics of the performance hall. The finest conductors are respected not only for their musical skill but also for their ability to inspire both musicians and audiences.

Most conductors also help audition musicians who apply for positions in an orchestra. A conductor listens to the applicants perform and then recommends who should be invited to join.

Most major orchestras in the United States are operated by private, nonprofit corporations called symphony societies. The chief concern of a symphony society is to raise funds to help support the orchestra. The board of directors of the society also acts on the conductor's recommendations regarding musicians to be offered positions in the orchestra.

Most professional orchestras have a business manager to handle most of the administrative work. The business manager works out the orchestra's budget; prepares employment contracts; plans rehearsal, concert, and recording schedules; and organizes ticket sales and publicity.

A)Find the logical mistakes in the following statements:

The modern orchestra consists of four groups of instruments: strings, winds, brasswinds, percussions.
According to the text conductor is a person who manages the orchestra, holds auditions, inspires musicians and works out the orchestra's budget.
Violin, harp, cello and double bass are compulsory orchestra instruments.
The first and second violinists play the same highest parts.
When musicians play in an orchestra they use the whole score.
The rehearsal begins straight after the conductor gets the score.
The musicians in the wind section always play only their instruments.

B) Draw a scheme that will show the arrangement of the instruments in an orchestra. Summarize the text in 200-250 words.

Ex.17. What instruments are considered to be:

a) the heart of the orchestra

b) the clown of the orchestra

c) heavy artillery of the orchestra

d) the battery of the orchestra

e) the king of instruments?

Explain your answer.

Ex.18. JMake a step by step outline of an orchestra rehearsal and tell about it in class.

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