Page 506 - (DK) The Ultimate Visual Dictionary 2nd Ed.

MUSIC
Orchestras

XYLOPHONE

AN ORCHESTRA IS A GROUP of musicians that VIBRAPHONE
plays music written for a specific combination of
(GONG)
instruments. The number and type of instruments TAM-TAM
included in the orchestra depends on the style of TUBULAR CASTANETS
music being played. The modern orchestra (also BELLS
known as a symphony orchestra) is made up
of four sections of instruments—stringed, TAMBOURINE
woodwind, brass, and percussion. The TRUMPETS
stringed section consists of violins, violas,
cellos (violoncellos), double basses, and MARACAS
sometimes a harp (see pp. 510-511). The main TRIANGLE
instruments of the woodwind section are flutes,
oboes, clarinets, and bassoons—the piccolo, cor
anglais, bass clarinet, saxophone, and double
bassoon (contrabassoon) can also be included
if the music requires them (see pp. 508-509). HORNS
The brass section usually consists of horns,
trumpets, trombones, and the tuba (see CLARINETS
pp. 506-507). The main instruments of
the percussion section are the timpani
BASS
(see pp. 518-519). The side drum, CLARINET
bass drum, cymbals, tambourine,
triangle, tubular bells, xylophone,
vibraphone, tam-tam (gong), HARP
castanets, and maracas can
also be included in the SAXOPHONE
percussion section (see PICCOLO
pp. 516-517). The musicians
are usually arranged in a semi-
circle—strings spread along the
front, woodwind and brass in the
center, and percussion at the back.
A conductor stands in front of the
musicians and controls the tempo
(speed) of the music and the
overall balance of the sound,
ensuring that no instruments
are too loud or too soft in
relation to the others. SECOND VIOLINS

504 FIRST VIOLINS