Orchestra Structure, Jazz, and Classical Music Definitions

Fundamentals of Music and Orchestral Knowledge

Symphony and Instrumental Basics

What Are Musical Instruments?

Objects constructed specifically for the purpose of producing musical sound.

Who Directs a Symphony Orchestra?

The person coordinating all the performers of the orchestra (the conductor).

Who is the Concertmaster?

The Concertmaster is the first violin of the orchestra.

Who Was Benjamin Britten?

He was an English composer.

Who Commissioned This Work?

The BBC in 1946.

What is the Title of This Work?

The work is titled Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell.

What Defines a Symphony Orchestra?

A large ensemble normally heard in closed halls and auditoriums during concerts.

Where Was the First Concert Hall Established?

In London, around 1700.

Instruments in a Jazz Orchestra

Key instruments include:

• Clarinet
• Saxophone
• Trumpet
• Trombone
• Tuba
• Piano
• Bass
• Drums

How Many Sections Does a Symphony Orchestra Have?

It typically has four main sections: strings, woodwind, brass, and percussion.

What Instrument Families Are Found in an Orchestra?

String, percussion, electrophones, and wind instruments.

Origin of the Word 'Symphonic'

It derives from the word sinfonia.

Which Orchestral Instruments Use Bows?

Violin, viola, cello, and double bass.

What is a Concertino?

A popular musical form, often used by a band, that usually had four to six movements.

Jazz, Bands, and Repertoire

Key Characteristics of Jazz Music

Jazz is characterized by:

• Syncopated rhythms
• Rhythmic insistence
• Improvisation

Defining a Band (Instrumental Ensemble)

An instrumental group composed primarily of wind instruments and percussion.

What is a Repertoire?

The set of musical pieces a musician is prepared to perform.

What is a March?

An instrumental piece, often for instruments only, designed to facilitate the movement of troops. These were sometimes called fanfares.

Paso Doble Structure and Performance

Classes of Pasodobles

• Taurine (Bullfighting)
• Concert
• Passacaglia (Slow Dance/Song)

What is a Paso Doble?

A type of ballroom dance.

Where Do Rock Orchestras Perform?

They often play in indoor venues.

Structural Parts of a Paso Doble

The structure typically includes:

• Introduction
• Part I: 32 bars
• First Trio: 32 bars
• Piccolo Trio Repeat (No Bridge): 32 bars
• Bridge Piccolo: 15 bars
• Second Trio (Tutti): 32 bars

Classical Forms and Composers

What is Chamber Music?

Music named for being played in small rooms or intimate settings.

Instruments Used in Chamber Music

Commonly includes bowed instruments (strings).

What is a Sonata?

A musical form often used for the first movement of the classical sonata structure.

Defining a Symphony

A large-scale work for orchestra, usually divided into three or four movements.

What is a Toccata?

A piece of classical keyboard music generally emphasizing the dexterity and skill of the performer.

How Do Stringed Instruments Produce Sound?

Sound is produced when the string vibrates, typically when a bow is rubbed or glided over the strings to initiate vibration.

Who Was Ludwig van Beethoven?

A revolutionary composer who, in his time, sourced and established a new musical style.