EpISODE 95 ORCHESTRATION-STRINGS PT.1

HOSTS- Jeremy Burns, Matthew Scott Phillips

 

TYPE- Theory

 

DURATION- 75:07

 

BUMPER MUSIC- "String Quartet in Modes- Dorian" (Matthew Scott Phillips)

ANNOUNCER- Mike Cunliffe  

Listen
DESCRIPTION

Orchestration is the art of choosing the right instruments, and the proper balance thereof, for a composition. Different considerations go into conveying different moods and emotions to better tell the story. The string section is often the most utilized. So well will focus on it's instruments: the contra bass, the cello, the viola and the violin!

INTRODUCTION TO STRINGS

- The string section is considered the backbone of the orchestra, with the other choirs often thought of   as supportive.

 

 -This section has a huge range:

      -The upright, or contrabass can sound an E1 (41.2Hz) on the low end. But some models can be

       extended to a low C1 (32.7Hz).

      -The violin can sound as high G7-3136Hz…just the fundamentals. Not including harmonics)

 

 -All stringed instruments are homogenous in tone color. From high to low, they all share the same tone

   quality.

 

 -Strings have a wide dynamic range, also unaffected by pitch. They can play loud and soft.

 

- These instruments can also make many different kinds of sounds (pizzicato, ponticello).

NUMBERS and PROPORTIONS

- A Full Symphony Orchestra consists of:

   - 16-18 1st violins

   - 14-16 2nd violins

   - 10-12 violas

   - 10-12 cellos

   - 8-10 basses

 

- In practice, it can often be smaller than that. These numbers are not always available or practical.

 

- The string players typically play two to a music stand. The "first chair" musician is closest to the audience. The "second chair" position is more obscured and handles any necessary page turning.

 

CONSTRUCTION

- The size of string instruments vary, but the proportions do not. From a picture, without a size reference, a double bass and a violin look very similar.

 

- The body is made of wood, and is hollow. The sound holes allow the sound of the vibrating strings to enter the body, echo, and be amplified back out.

 

- The neck is convex. The strings are arched (in terms of their layout on the bridge). Typically, only two strings can be played simultaneously.

 

- The 4 main stringed instruments are tuned as follows (from low to high):

     - Violin: G D A E

     - Viola: C G D A

     - Cello: C G D A (an octave below the viola)

     - Bass: E A D G

LINKS AND RESOURCES

-The lecture notes for this episode drew from a number of sources. Among them,
 "The Study Orchestration" by Samual Adler, comes highly recommended.

MUSIC STUDENT 101

© 2017 EVERYTHING BURNS PRODUCTIONS, LLC