Today, almost every musical theater on the planet has its own orchestra pit. But there were times when it simply did not exist. Having wondered about the history of its origin, this is what we managed to find out.
Is it true that the orchestra pit was invented by Richard Wagner?
No. The great German composer Richard Wagner was indeed a reformer in the field of music, but he did not invent the orchestra pit. He only made some adjustments to its location, moving it deeper under the stage and hiding it with a special canopy. The pit itself appeared at a time when even the concept of “ conductor"didn't exist yet.When did the concept of “pit” appear?
During the Renaissance, a group of musicians of the European theater successfully found a language with the performers and without a special leader, being located on the same level with the audience of the lower tier until the third quarter of the 19th century. The place that we today call the ground floor began to be called the “pit” during the Renaissance. True, it did not have any signs of prestige, there were no chairs, the audience had to stand throughout the action, and the floor was often dirt, where the holders of the cheapest tickets threw everything they ate during the many-hour performances - nut shells and orange peels. And next to these " groundlings", making up the audience of the "pit" for 1 penny (the cost of a portion of cheap beef), there were also musicians playing along with the artists performing on a high platform. It was only in 1702 that this place for musicians at the playing platform began to be called by the ancient Greek word “ orchestra"(translated from Greek " place for dancing»).
Pit at the stage of Shakespeare's Globe Theater
How did the conductor appear?
By the beginning of the 18th century, the number of participants in the orchestra continued to grow, revealing a great problem in maintaining tempo. This is why there was a need for a leader who could lead the team during the game. They often became a musician who performed one of the parts. His main task was to maintain a strong share.In the era of diversity of violin instruments (the last third of the 18th century), when viols of different sizes were replaced by viola, cello, and double bass, the leader of the orchestra was often the first violinist, using a sheet of white paper rolled into a tube for control. At the turn of the 18th - 19th centuries, the first conductors stood facing the auditorium in the center of the orchestra on a small elevation. And the orchestra was still located at the ramp, on the same level as the stalls. However, by the end of the 19th century, his situation changed. He stood next to the row of first violins, with his back to the audience, and could see everything that was happening on stage. This innovation belongs to Richard Wagner.
Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883)
What else did Richard Wagner come up with?
In addition to a new instrument - the bass trumpet, moving the conductor's console and a number of reforms in composition, harmony, and action, he moved the orchestra to a special niche near the ramp, lowered below stage level and covered from above with a special device. Many researchers sacralize this act, seeing in it a manifestation of the will of the great Author to deal with the orchestra in the same way as with the Nibelungs, hiding them in the abyss of the dungeon. We’ll leave the interpretation to fans of Wagner’s talent; we got the real fact of the disappearance of an obstacle that distracts us from an interesting theatrical spectacle accompanied by magnificent music sounding from nowhere.What instruments does an orchestra usually consist of?
The tradition developed during the period of the so-called “Viennese classics” (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven), when the first symphonies were composed, which gave the name to its first performers - symphonic orchestras. Today such an orchestra for performing Western European music is called “ classic" or " Beethoven's"(as it was formed in the composer's scores) and consists of four instrumental groups: 1 ) string quintet (1st and 2nd violin, viola, cello, double bass); 2 ) paired woodwinds (pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons); 3 ) brass horns (a couple of trumpets and 2-4 horns) and 4 ) percussion (represented by timpani, but today large and small drums, triangle, orchestral bells, xylophone and even tam-tams are additionally used). Occasionally attract harp and representatives 5 ) keyboards (organ, harpsichord, piano) and others. Some works by composers of the late, romantic era required up to one hundred and fifty performers (Wagner, Bruckner, Mahler, Strauss, Scriabin). At the same time, chamber groups with a strength of 4 to 12 people, which arose in the 17th century at the courts of royal and noble families, are still popular thanks to the activities before the symphonic period (Monteverdi, Handel, etc.). Sometimes they are not hidden in the orchestra pit, but are made into a stylish part of the stage action.
Are there any tools you can’t do without?
Each era had its own preferences, reflected in the composition of instruments and musical leaders. In Renaissance music it was impossible to do without keyboards - the organ and the harpsichord. Surprisingly, the exact composition of instruments in a musical work was first indicated in 1607 in the opera “ Orpheus» Claudio Monteverdi (15 viols of different sizes, 2 violins, 4 flutes - a pair of large and a pair of medium ones), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 4 trumpets, 5 trombones, a harp, 2 harpsichords and 3 mini-organs. In the middle of the 18th century, a clear division into chamber and orchestral music arose. Already at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, music composers reflected their instrumental preferences in their names. In the 19th century, the role of strings increased again and became a leading one. Composers began writing parts for each instrument, allowing one or the other to have a special sound.How does the orchestra “check” with what is happening on stage?
With one eye looking at the notes, with the other the musicians follow the conductor who is leading them. No squint by the way. None of them usually has any idea what is happening on stage. True, everyone hears perfectly. And an unexpected roar or a wrong note will be noticed in a timely manner, but due to excellent upbringing and strict discipline they will not show it.
Conductor of the orchestra of the Perm Opera and Ballet Theater. P. I. Tchaikovsky Teodor Currentzis
What is the “orchestra pit” today?
A recess in the dividing line between the audience and the stage action, intended to accommodate musicians whose accompaniment is necessary to accompany the plot.Why is it placed below, what does it give?
For the sake of saving spectator and stage space and so as not to interfere with the viewer’s eyes seeing everything that is happening on the stage plane.What are the standard dimensions?
A rectangular hole in the stage 1.2 to 1.8 meters wide, 6.1 to 12 meters long and 1.8 to 3.0 meters deep. This last value became the reason for the occasional injury to the public.What is it equipped with?
The pits have the following equipment systems:1 . A place for the conductor to face the stage space in order to see what is happening and organize a single musical organism.
2 . A backlight system that allows you to read notes from a sheet and see the conductor even in complete darkness.
3 . Acoustic protection of the box itself so that the musicians do not become deaf from each other, with a microphone system that transmits sound through translators located throughout the audience area.
4 . A hydraulic lift or screw jack, a rack and pinion or scissor system for raising and lowering sections, or an elevator.
5 . Covering - when the pit is not in use, it is covered with various kinds of materials.
James McBay. Violinist. 1932
Is it polite to look into the pit during intermission?
It is unlikely that you can see anything interesting there. The only known place where something extraordinary happens is the orchestra pit of the festival theater in Bayreuth (Germany), built during the lifetime and under the direction of R. Wagner (1872-76) and annually celebrating the holiday of his music with an opera festival in the summer. It is here that the pit is hidden by a canopy and descends in steps deep into the stage, so that it is completely invisible to the public. Due to the fact that the German composer's operas are considered the longest in the world, almost all musicians prefer light clothing - shorts and T-shirts - on the hot summer days of the forum. However, even those lucky ones who stood in a long line of ten years for tickets and got to see the festival performance will not see this. In all other cases, the dress code is mournful - everyone is in black, but there are situations when men are allowed to wear a white shirt under a jacket or tuxedo. During intermission, the musicians, like the audience, go to rest out of sight.What happens if one of the musicians gets sick?
Nothing noticeable. The ranks are growing stronger and united. And with a mass epidemic, some works also end faster. Looking at the history of symphonic music, when the orchestra consisted of a small number of instruments, you sometimes begin to miss the laconicism and obvious differences in timbres and shades of voices. Although there are those who like it “to be louder and noisier.” For them there is a special joy - the march genre. Some people like a military one, some like a wedding one, and some like a mourning one, which, however, is also a big, albeit sad, thing. The main thing is not to listen to them often at night.
Is it possible to throw flowers and gifts into the hole?
This is about the same as throwing bulls onto the balcony below. Except that such behavior does not cause embarrassment among the rare, literate Gopniks. In the theater, such a thrower will certainly be noticed and beaten and enveloped in a withering gaze. It’s still not worth playing bowling or small towns, throwing a bouquet at the head of a gifted orchestra member. No need! Use the services of a conductor who knows a non-traumatic way to get into the orchestra pit. He can send your flowers and gifts with a card included in them " On whose behalf” into the hands of exactly the musician whom you wanted to scare with offerings. There is a time and place for everything.An orchestra is a group of musicians playing various instruments. But it should not be confused with an ensemble. This article will tell you what types of orchestras there are. And their compositions of musical instruments will also be sanctified.
Types of orchestras
An orchestra differs from an ensemble in that in the first case, identical instruments are combined into groups that play in unison, that is, one common melody. And in the second case, each musician is a soloist - he plays his own part. “Orchestra” is a Greek word and is translated as “dance floor.” It was located between the stage and the audience. The choir was located on this platform. Then it became similar to modern orchestra pits. And over time, musicians began to settle there. And the name “orchestra” went to groups of instrumental performers.
Types of orchestras:
- Symphonic.
- String.
- Wind.
- Jazz.
- Pop.
- Orchestra of folk instruments.
- Military.
- School.
The composition of the instruments of different types of orchestra is strictly defined. Symphonic consists of a group of strings, percussion and winds. String and brass bands consist of instruments corresponding to their names. Jazz bands can have different compositions. The variety orchestra consists of winds, strings, percussion, keyboards and electric musical instruments.
Types of choirs
A choir is a large ensemble consisting of singers. There must be at least 12 artists. In most cases, choirs perform accompanied by orchestras. The types of orchestras and choirs differ. There are several classifications. First of all, choirs are divided into types according to their composition of voices. These can be: women's, men's, mixed, children's, and boys' choirs. Based on the manner of performance, they distinguish between folk and academic.
Choirs are also classified according to the number of performers:
- 12-20 people – vocal and choral ensemble.
- 20-50 artists - chamber choir.
- 40-70 singers – average.
- 70-120 participants – a large choir.
- Up to 1000 artists - consolidated (from several groups).
According to their status, choirs are divided into: educational, professional, amateur, church.
Symphony Orchestra
Not all types of orchestras include stringed instruments. This group includes: violins, cellos, violas, double basses. One of the orchestras, which includes a string-bow family, is a symphony. It will consist of several different groups of musical instruments. Today there are two types of symphony orchestras: small and large. The first of them has a classic composition: 2 flutes, the same number of bassoons, clarinets, oboes, trumpets and horns, no more than 20 strings, and occasionally timpani.
A large symphony orchestra can be of any composition. It can include 60 or more string instruments, tubas, up to 5 trombones of different timbres and 5 trumpets, up to 8 horns, up to 5 flutes, as well as oboes, clarinets and bassoons. It can also include such varieties from the wind group as oboe d'amour, piccolo flute, contrabassoon, English horn, saxophones of all types. It can include a huge number of percussion instruments. Often a large symphony orchestra includes organ, piano, harpsichord and harp. 
Brass band
Almost all types of orchestras include a family of wind instruments. This group includes two varieties: copper and wood. Some types of orchestras consist only of wind and percussion instruments, such as brass and military. In the first variety, the main role belongs to cornets, bugles of various types, tubas, and baritone euphoniums. Secondary instruments: trombones, trumpets, horns, flutes, saxophones, clarinets, oboes, bassoons. If the brass band is large, then, as a rule, all the instruments in it increase in number. Very rarely harps and keyboards may be added.
The repertoire of brass bands includes:
- Marches.
- European ballroom dancing.
- Opera arias.
- Symphonies.
- Concerts.
Brass bands most often perform in open street areas or accompany the procession, as they sound very powerful and bright.
Folk Instruments Orchestra
Their repertoire includes mainly folk compositions. What is their instrumental composition? Each nation has its own. For example, the orchestra of Russian folk instruments includes: balalaikas, gusli, domras, zhaleikas, whistles, button accordions, rattles, and so on.
Military band
The types of orchestras consisting of wind and percussion instruments have already been listed above. There is another variety that includes these two groups. These are military bands. They serve to voice military rituals, ceremonies, and also for participation in concerts. There are two types of military bands. Some consist of percussion instruments and brass. They are called homogeneous. The second type is mixed military bands; they, among other things, include a group of woodwinds.
The symphony orchestra consists of three groups of musical instruments: strings (violins, violas, cellos, double basses), winds (brass and wood) and a group of percussion instruments. The number of musicians in groups may vary, depending on the piece being performed. Often the composition of a symphony orchestra is expanded, additional and atypical musical instruments are introduced: harp, celesta, saxophone, etc. The number of musicians in a symphony orchestra in some cases can exceed 200 musicians!
Depending on the number of musicians in the groups, there are small and large symphony orchestras; among the varieties of small ones, there are theater orchestras that participate in the musical accompaniment of operas and ballets.
Chamber
Such an orchestra differs from a symphony orchestra in having a significantly smaller composition of musicians and a smaller variety of groups of instruments. The number of wind and percussion instruments in the chamber orchestra has also been reduced.
String
This orchestra consists only of string instruments - violin, viola, cello, double bass.
Wind
The brass band consists of a variety of wind instruments - woodwind and brass, as well as a group of percussion instruments. The brass band includes, along with musical instruments characteristic of a symphony orchestra (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba), and specific instruments (wind alto, tenor, baritone, euphonium, flugelhorn, sousaphone and etc.), which are not found in other types of orchestras.
In our country, military brass bands are extremely popular, performing, along with pop and jazz compositions, special applied military music: fanfares, marches, anthems and the so-called gardening repertoire - waltzes and ancient marches. Brass orchestras are much more mobile than symphony and chamber orchestras; they can perform music while moving. There is a special genre of performance - an orchestral fashion show, in which the performance of music by a brass band is combined with the simultaneous performance of complex choreographic performances by musicians.
In large opera and ballet theaters you can find special brass bands - theatrical bands. The gangs participate directly in the stage production itself, where, according to the plot, the musicians are acting characters.
Pop
As a rule, this is a special composition of a small symphony orchestra (pop symphony orchestra), which includes, among other things, a group of saxophones, specific keyboards, electronic instruments (synthesizer, electric guitar, etc.) and a pop rhythm section.
Jazz
A jazz orchestra (band) consists, as a rule, of a brass group, which includes groups of trumpets, trombones and saxophones expanded in comparison with other orchestras, a string group represented by violins and double bass, as well as a jazz rhythm section.
Folk Instruments Orchestra
One of the options for a folk ensemble is an orchestra of Russian folk instruments. It consists of groups of balalaikas and domras, includes gusli, button accordions, special Russian wind instruments - horns and zhaleikas. Such orchestras often include instruments typical of a symphony orchestra - flutes, oboes, horns and percussion instruments. The idea of creating such an orchestra was proposed by balalaika player Vasily Andreev at the end of the 19th century.
The orchestra of Russian folk instruments is not the only type of folk ensemble. There are, for example, Scottish bagpipe bands, Mexican wedding bands, which feature a group of various guitars, trumpets, ethnic percussion, etc.
The word “orchestra” has been known for a long time. In the ancient Greek theater, the “orchestra” was the name given to the place in front of the stage where the choir was located during the performance of the tragedy. Later, a large instrumental ensemble began to be called this, in contrast to a small chamber ensemble (from the Latin “camera” - “room”). Large instrumental ensembles accompanied musical and theatrical performances, or performed independently. In the modern understanding of An orchestra is a large group of performing musicians playing various instruments. The type of orchestra depends on the selection of instruments.
ABOUT orchestra of folk instruments. Different peoples have different instruments, so the composition and sound of such orchestras differ noticeably from each other. The Neapolitan orchestra consists of mandolins and guitars, while the national instrument orchestras of Africa and Indonesia consist mainly of percussion instruments. The orchestra of Russian folk instruments plays domras, balalaikas, gusli, pipes, zhaleikas, horns, button accordions, and tambourines. This is how he was created at the end of the 19th century Vasily Vasilievich Andreev. Now the orchestra of Russian folk instruments includes a group of woodwind instruments, and the percussion group has also been significantly expanded. Such orchestras perform arrangements of Russian folk songs, works specially written for this composition.
Brass band a group of performers on wind instruments (wood and brass or only brass, the so-called gang) and percussion instruments. The brass band is able to perform in any conditions - indoors, outdoors, and even on the move. Thanks to this, the brass band has long been used by the armies of many countries. The brass band originated in the distant past. Even in Ancient Egypt, Persia, Greece, China, and India, solemn religious ceremonies and military operations were accompanied by ensembles of wind and percussion instruments. The first brass bands appeared in Europe in the 17th century. In the second half of the 18th century, they were replenished with instruments of “Janissary” (Turkish) music - large and small drums, cymbals and others. The brass band is still an indispensable participant in cultural and sporting events today.
Jazz orchestra. Jazz is a special phenomenon in the music of the 20th century. It was born from the combination of two cultures - European and African. First jazz bands appeared in America in the 10s of the 20th century. The favorite instruments of these groups were: trumpet, trombone, clarinet, piano, double bass, saxophone, guitar, banjo. In general, jazz willingly uses any instruments. The structure of most jazz pieces resembles a variation form: at the beginning the entire ensemble plays a theme, then there is a series of variations-improvisations, and at the end the theme is played again. The art of improvisation, whimsical rhythm - swing(“swinging”), a special manner of performance, as if dancing - all this at one time stunned and captivated the audience. The names of famous jazz musicians are still heard: singer and trumpeter Louis Armstrong, singer Ella Fitzgerald, clarinetist Benny Goodman, pianist Duke Ellington.
Variety orchestra– uses a variety of types of compositions, including those characteristic of jazz. The most common type is the pop-symphony orchestra. Pop instrumental music differs from jazz in its greater simplicity and melody, and lack of improvisation. Pop orchestras often perform dance and entertainment music, arrangements of songs, and arrangements of classical works.
Symphony Orchestra developed in the second half of the 18th century. Musicians have been searching for the best combination and relationship of instruments for a long time. At first, their selection in the orchestra was not precisely established and could vary significantly. The founders of the classical symphony orchestra become
J. Haydn and W. A. Mozart, in whose work it took shape as a union of four instrumental groups: bowed string, woodwind, brass And percussion. The basis of the orchestra has remained unchanged to this day, but over the past centuries its composition has been constantly enriched with new instruments, and the already known ones have been improved all the time. The symphony orchestra has the widest expressive possibilities.
Any orchestra is a large group of performing musicians; their coordinated play is impossible without conductor(from the French “to direct, to manage”). Before his eyes score - notes in which the parts of all instruments are written. Based on the score, the conductor shows the musicians the time of their entry, counts the beats, uniting everyone into a single ensemble, and presents his understanding of the content of the work. The conductor did not always have a light baton in his hands. At first, the conductors loudly beat time with a battuta (stick), some tapped their feet, or rolled up notes. Often the orchestra was led by the first violinist - bandmaster using a bow for this. The conductor's baton appeared in the hands of the conductor at the beginning of the 19th century. And Richard Wagner was the first to turn his face to the musicians.
Tasks:
1. Which orchestra often plays outdoors, and why?
2. What orchestra did V. Andreev form?
3. Which orchestra can have any composition of performers,
and most importantly – improvisation and swing rhythm?
4. Which orchestra performs symphonies, symphonic poems,
suites, overtures?
5. Why does an orchestra need a conductor?
