The Instrumental Music of the Classical Period

The music of the classical period is characterized by a lighter, more delicate sound than the heavier music of the Baroque period.

The Orchestra

The word orchestra originally derives from the Greek ὀρχήστρα, the name for the area in front of a stage in ancient Greek theatre reserved for the Greek chorus. During the Classical period in Western music, orchestras typically consisted of between 30 and 60 musicians. The typical orchestra grew in size throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, reaching a peak with the large orchestras called for in the works of Richard Wagner, and later, Anton Bruckner, Gustav Mahler, and Richard Strauss.

The String Family

The string family of the orchestra is made up of the violin, viola, cello, and double bass. These instruments are played with a bow, or sometimes with the fingers (pizzicato). The violin is the highest sounding instrument in the string family. The double bass is the lowest sounding instrument in the string family.

The string instruments are some of the most versatile in the orchestra. They can play very fast or very slow music. They can play soft, gentle music or loud, powerful music. The different members of the string family each have their own unique sound. But they all share one important quality: a beautiful, singing tone that can express any kind of emotion.

The Woodwind Family

The woodwind family of musical instruments includes the flute, piccolo, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bassoon and contrabassoon.

The flute is the oldest of the woodwind instruments. It is a high-pitched, transverse (side-blown) flute that is held horizontally. The player blows across a hole in the headjoint (the upper part of the flute that contains the mouthpiece) to produce a tone. Flutes are made of various metals, including silver, gold, platinum and titanium.

The piccolo is a small flute that is one octave higher than the concert flute. It also is a transverse flute that is held horizontally, but it has a slightly different fingering system than the concert flute.

The oboe is a double-reed woodwind instrument that is held vertically. The player blows into a mouthpiece that contains two reeds (one for each hand). The reeds vibrate against each other to produce a tone. Oboes are made of wood or synthetic materials.

The English horn is similar to the oboe, but it is larger and has a lower pitch. It also is held vertically and has a double reed mouthpiece.

The clarinet is a single-reed woodwind instrument that is held vertically. The player blows into a mouthpiece that contains only one reed (unlike the oboe and English horn). Clarinets come in different sizes, each with its own range of pitches. B flat clarinets are the most common type; others include A clarinets, bass clarinets and contrabass clarinets as well as other sizes in between these extremes. Clarinets are made of wood or synthetic materials.

The Brass Family

The brass family is made up of instruments that use a vibrating column of air to create sound. The player’s lips set the air in motion and the shape of the instrument controls the pitch. The three most common members of the brass family are the trumpet, French horn, and trombone.

The trumpet is the highest sounding member of the brass family and can play a range from soft and mellow to bright and brilliant. It is often used as a solo instrument.

The French horn has a mellower sound than the trumpet and is often used in orchestras to add color to the music. It can be difficult to play in tune, so it is considered an advanced instrument.

The trombone has a wide range of sounds, from soft and lyrical to loud and brassy. It is one of the most versatile instruments in the orchestra and can be used for solo or ensemble playing.

The Percussion Family

The percussion instruments produce sound by being hit with a stick or by being shaken. They are played by the drummer and the timpanist. The percussion family includes the following instruments:

-Bass drum
-Cymbals
-Glockenspiel
-Tambourine
-Triangle

The Instruments of the Classical Orchestra

The instruments of the classical orchestra are the instruments used in the classical period. The classical period is from 1750 to 1830. The orchestra during the classical period was made up of the string section, the woodwind section, the brass section, and the percussion section.

The Violin

The violin is a particularly demanding instrument, and students can expect to devote many hours each week to practice. A beginners’ class will usually include some basic music theory andhistory of the instrument, as well as instruction in proper playing technique. As students progress, they will be expected to play increasingly difficult pieces, and will develop an understanding of different musical styles.

The classical period saw the development of many new musical instruments, including the violin. The violin is a particularly demanding instrument, and students can expect to devote many hours each week to practice. A beginners’ class will usually include some basic music theory and history of the instrument, as well as instruction in proper playing technique. As students progress, they will be expected to play increasingly difficult pieces, and will develop an understanding of different musical styles.

The Viola

The viola is a string instrument that is similar in appearance to the violin but larger in size. It has a lower and deeper sound than the violin. The viola is played under the chin, held upright, and played with a bow.

The viola was first used in the 16th century but did not become popular until the 18th century. It was used in orchestras and as a solo instrument. The most famous composer for the viola was Antonio Vivaldi.

Today, the viola is used in symphony orchestras, string quartets, and as a solo instrument.

The Cello

The cello is a string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is played by bowing or plucking the strings. The cello is the second-largest member of the violin family, behind the double bass.

The word “cello” is an abbreviation of the Italian violoncello, which means “little violone”. The name “violoncello” was first used by printer Giacomo Vincenti in 1676, when he published Monteverdi’s Opera Omnia. The oldest surviving cello, dated back to 1538, was made by Andrea Amati.

The Bass

The bass is the lowest-pitched member of the string family of musical instruments. The bass’s range varies depending on the type of bass, but is generally between about 55 Hz (the lowest note on a double bass) and about 1,760 Hz (the highest note on a contrabassoon). Basses are used in a wide range of musical genres, including jazz, blues, rock and roll, country, reggae, gospel, R&B and pop.

The double bass is the most common type of bass in the orchestra. It is also sometimes called the “string bass,” particularly in jazz contexts. The double bass is played with a bow or by plucking the strings with the fingers (pizzicato).

The electric bass is an electrically amplified version of the double bass. It is commonly used in rock and roll, jazz fusion and other genres of music where a heavier sound is desired. The electric bass can be played with a bow (arco) or by plucking the strings (pizzicato).

The Flute

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. According to The Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, flutes are categorized as edge-blown aerophones. A musician who plays the flute can be referred to as a flautist, flutist, flute player, or (rarely)flutenist.

The Oboe

The Oboe is a double-reed instrument used in the classical orchestra. It is the second-highest sounding member of the woodwind family. The oboe plays in the treble or soprano range and has a clear, penetrating tone. It is about 3 feet long and consists of a conical tube of wood with a brass bell at one end. The tube is covered in leather or fish skin at the top end, and has a narrow reed attached to the lower end. The player blows into the reed, which vibrates to create sound.

The oboe first gained popularity in France during the 17th century and quickly spread to other parts of Europe. It reached its height of popularity during the Classical period in the 18th century. Many famous composers wrote works for the oboe, including Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven.

The oboe has continued to be popular in classical music and is also used in jazz, rock, pop, and other genres. Today, there are several different types of oboes available, including the standard orchestral oboe, the smaller Germanic oboe d’amore, and the larger Heckelphone.

The Bassoon

The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor clefs, and occasionally the treble. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature. It is known for its distinctive tone colour, wide range, variety of character and agility. Listeners often compare its warmth and richness to that of a male baritone voice. Someone who plays the bassoon is called a bassoonist.

The word bassoon comes from French basse-taille (“low-pitched”), from Italian basson Girolamo Dalla Casa’s 1584 treatise on musical instruments (Newe teutscheposaunen), tr. John Rastell as A Wyfe’s Lyfe of 1588, where it was simply called “basson”. Henry VIII promptly banned it as an instrument requiring too much time to master – apparently he found it difficult to pair with singers at his many dinner parties – but by the early 17th century its popularity had increased so much that other composers wrote works specifically for it.

The Trumpet

The trumpet is a wind instrument that is made of brass. It is one of the oldest instruments in the orchestra, dating back to the Roman times. The trumpet has a very unique sound that can be both powerful and beautiful. It is often used to add excitement to a piece of music or to signify special occasions.

The French Horn

The French horn is a brass instrument with a distinctive conical bore and flared bell. The French horn is used in orchestras, concert bands, marching bands and as a solo instrument. It is commonly used in jazz ensembles and other small ensemble settings.

The French horn has a mellow, full sound that can be both powerful and lyrical. The instrument is capable of a wide range of dynamics, from delicate pianissimos to resounding fortissimos.

The French horn is played with a large, looped metal coils called valves. The player presses the valves down with their left hand to change the pitch of the note they are playing. The French horn is a transposing instrument, which means that the pitch of the note being played is different than the pitch that you hear coming out of the instrument.

The French horn is usually considered a part of the orchestra’s brass section, along with the trumpet, trombone and tuba.

The Trombone

The trombone is a brass instrument with a tubular bell and slide. The slide is used to change the pitch of the instrument by lengthening or shortening the vibrating column of air. The trombone has a distinctive tone that is rich and full. It is most often used in orchestras and brass bands, but can also be found in jazz and pop ensembles.

The trombone is one of the oldest brass instruments, dating back to the 15th century. It was originally used in religious music, but began to be used in secular music in the 16th century. The trombone reached its peak in the 18th and 19th centuries, when it was an important part of the orchestra.

In the Classical period, composers such as Haydn and Mozart wrote parts for the trombone that showcased its power and range. In the Romantic period, composers such as Brahms and Wagner wrote pieces that featured sweeping melodies and grandiose soundscapes, making full use of the trombone’s rich tone. Today, the trombone remains an important part of orchestral music, although it is less prominent than it was in previous centuries.

The Timpani

The timpani, also known as kettledrums, are large drums that produce a deep, resonant sound. They are usually made of copper and have a membrane (head) that is tensioned with a system of leather straps or tuning bolts. The timpani are the only percussion instruments that evolved during the classical period and they quickly became an essential part of the orchestra.

There are usually two timpani in an orchestra, each tuned to a different pitch. The player strikes the head with a padded stick (mallet) to produce the desired note. The timpani play an important role in setting the mood and adding drama to orchestral music.