Instruments of the
Orchestra
There are FOUR families of
instruments
• Just like human families,
instrumental families come in all
shapes and sizes
• The four families of instruments are
the strings, woodwinds, brass and
percussion
The String Family
• The instruments in this family are the
Violin, Viola, Cello, and String Bass
• All of the instruments in this family look
alike; they are all made from wood anda
all have strings but come in different sizes
• The Harp is also used in the orchestra and
the strings are plucked, not played with a
bow like the others
The Woodwind family
• The instruments in this family are the
Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon &
Saxophone
• This is a very diverse family; the
instruments look different and are made
of different materials
• The Clarinet, Oboe , Bassoon &
Saxophone all use a reed to make sound
The Brass family
• The instruments in this family are the
Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn and
Tuba
• This is a very loud instrument family!
• These instruments look alike and are all
made of « coiled » brass. They use a
mouth piece which needs to be
« buzzed » into for sound to be created.
The Percussion family
• This is a very large family with many
different instruments
• Some percussion instruments can play
pitches or melodies, such as the
xylophone or timpani
• Other percussion instruments make their
own unique sound such as the snare
drum, gong, whip, tambourine, or
triangle
• Composers can create many special sounds by
using these families of instruments in certain
combinations
• In the piece we will be listening to today, the
composer sometimes has the instruments play
as a family or as a solo.
• The composer also mixes things up with
different families playing together
The Young Person’s Guide to the
Orchestra by Benjamin Britten
• Today we will listen to the main Theme of this
composition
• This theme was written over 350 years ago by
an english composer named Henry Purcell
• Benjamin Britten who wrote this composition
used this theme for his set of variations
Henry Purcell
Benjamin Britten
Theme and Variation
• What is a THEME?
• What is a VARIATION?
The main idea the
composition is based on.
• Mixing up or changing
(Varying) the theme.
Henry Purcell
Benjamin Britten
The Theme
• First we hear the entire orchestra play the
theme
• Then the theme is heard by each individual
family
• Followed by the full orchestra again
•Can you name each
family as it enters?
Theme by Entire
Orchestra
Theme by the
Woodwinds
Theme by the Brass
Theme by the Strings
Theme by the Percussion
Theme by Entire
Orchestra
Melody and Accompaniment
Look at the two pictures below.
1. Which picture could be called the
MELODY (the main tune of the song)?
A melody can stand alone.
2. Which describes the ACCOMPANIMENT
(the background)?
An accompaniment makes the melody more
interesting.
Let’s Meet the Woodwinds
• Remember, each soloist is playing
the main tune, the melody. You will
hear others in the background
playing the accompaniment.
Variation A
• 2 FLUTES are playing bird-like
sounds
• Now the PICCOLO
joins in.
Variation B
• The flutes and piccolo take a rest
and let 2 OBOES play.
Variation C
• Now we will hear from 2 CLARINETS.
Variation D
• Finally, we hear from the largest of
the woodwinds – the BASSOONS.
Meet the Strings and their
cousin, the Harp
• Remember, each soloist is playing
the main tune, the melody. You will
hear others in the background
playing the accompaniment.
Variation E
• Let’s listen to the 1st and 2nd VIOLINS.
Variation F
• Now we will hear the VIOLAS.
Variation G
• Now the CELLOS.
Variation H
• Now the low sounding
STRING BASSES.
(Double Bass)
(Stand-up Bass)
Variation I
• Finally, the HARP, which has 47
strings and 7 foot pedals to change
the pitch of the strings.
DYNAMICS
“The loudness of Music”
Do you remember these dynamic
marks?
Fortissimo
Forte
MezzoForte
Mezzopiano
Piano
Pianissimo
Crescendo
Decrescendo
Tempo is…
“The Speed of Beat”
Some “Speed” words:
Fast
Slow Very Fast
Very Slow
Medium
Getting Faster
Getting Slower
Glissando
“Sweeping” the fingertips
across the harp strings
Meet the Brass Instruments
• Remember, each soloist is playing
the main tune, the melody. You will
hear others in the background
playing the accompaniment.
Variation J
• The FRENCH HORNS introduce the
brass family.
• They play long, sustained sounds.
Variation K
• Now come the TRUMPETS.
Variation L
• Now come the TROMBONES.
Variation L
• The TUBA enters then all the brass
play.
Legato
“Smooth and connected
sounds”
Staccato
“Short,dettached sounds”
Meet the Percussion
Instruments
Specific pitches like the TIMPANI
Complex melodies like
the XYLOPHONE
Unusual sound effects like the BASS DRUM,
CYMBALS, TAMBOURINE, TRIANGLE, WOOD
BLOCK, SNARE DRUM, CASTANETS and the
WHIP
Variation M
• Listen to the TIMPANI, introducing the
other percussion instruments.
• Now the BASS DRUM & CYMBALS
• Now the TAMBOURINE & TRIANGLE
• Now the SNARE DRUM & WOOD BLOCK
• Here is the XYLOPHONE
• The CASTANETS & GONG
• And finally, the WHIP!
• All percussion play
ROLL CALL!
Here come the instruments one by
one: A Fugue Finale
• Benjamin Britten introduced us to the 4 families of
the orchestral instruments, having them play Henry
Purcell’s THEME.
• Then, through several sets of VARIATIONS, we took
the orchestra apart, examining each member of the
various families.
• Now, Britten puts the orchestra back together, using
a FUGUE.
What is a FUGUE?
• Think of it as a “musical roll call”
where each of the instruments
makes a short appearance.
• Another way to think of it: It is like a
complex round where each
instrument starts at different times
and continues to play as the next
makes it’s entrance.
CODA
• When all instruments are back in,
Britten brings back the main THEME
(by Purcell) and ends the piece with
a lively CODA (by Britten).
• CODA – “a tail ending”
Listen to the FUGUE as each
instrument makes it’s entrance
THEME
(Purcell)
CODA
(Britten)
THE END