What is orchestra?

  • (noun): Seating on the main floor in a theater.
    See also — Additional definitions below

Orchestra

An orchestra is a large instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus. The orchestra grew by accretion throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, but changed very little in composition during the course of the 20th century.

Read more about Orchestra.

Some articles on orchestra:

Orchestre De Chambre De Lausanne
... The Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne (Lausanne Chamber Orchestra) is a Swiss chamber orchestra based in Lausanne, Switzerland ... violinist and conductor Victor Desarzens founded the orchestra in 1942, and served as its first artistic director for 30 years ... Noted guest conductors with the orchestra included Otto Ackermann, Ernest Ansermet, and Ernst Bour, as well as the composers Paul Hindemith and Frank ...
Trey Anastasio - Composer Work
... On September 27, 2008, Anastasio and Orchestra Nashville premiered a new work titled Time Turns Elastic, an original long-form piece that was orchestrated ... Anastasio previously collaborated with Hart and Orchestra Nashville in his orchestral performance of "Guyute" at Bonnaroo 2004 ... He performed the same composition at Carnegie Hall with the Vermont Youth Orchestra on September 14, 2004 and with the New York Philharmonic on September 12, 2009 ...
Harrison Birtwistle - List of Major Works - Other Works
1968–69) The Triumph of Time (1971), orchestra Grimethorpe Aria (1973), brass band Silbury Air (1976–77), chamber orchestra Bow Down (1977), chamber opera Secret Theatre, for chamber ensemble (1984 ...
SCO - Orchestras
... Scottish Chamber Orchestra Singapore Chinese Orchestra Single Cell Orchestra ...
Orchestra - Other Meanings of orchestra
... In Ancient Greece, the orchestra was the space between the auditorium and the proscenium (or stage), in which were stationed the chorus and the instrumentalists ... The word orchestra literally means "a dancing place" ... In some theaters, the orchestra is the area of seats directly in front of the stage (called primafila or platea) the term more properly applies to the place in a theatre ...

More definitions of "orchestra":

  • (noun): A musical organization consisting of a group of instrumentalists including string players.

Famous quotes containing the word orchestra:

    “Pop” Wyman ruled here with a firm but gentle hand; no drunken man was ever served at the bar; no married man was allowed to play at the tables; across the face of the large clock was written “Please Don’t Swear,” and over the orchestra appeared the gentle admonition, “Don’t Shoot the Pianist—He’s Doing His Damndest.”
    —Administration in the State of Colo, U.S. public relief program. Colorado: A Guide to the Highest State (The WPA Guide to Colorado)

    As the artist
    extends his world with
    one gratuitous flourish—a stroke of white or
    a run on the clarinet above the
    bass tones of the orchestra ...
    Denise Levertov (b. 1923)