Latest Reviews
- 19/01/11
- A Special Evening of Music
- The ‘very special evening of music’ promised in the programme for Orchestra West’s concert... (more)
All you ever wanted to know....
Q. Why is the oboe used to tune the orchestra?
A: Because its sound is particularly penetrating and can be heard above a large ensemble! (See the article in 'Featured Instruments)
Q: What's the difference between a concerto and a symphony?
A: A concerto is a work in which a solo instrument is the star, contrasted and blended with the orchestra. They are usually, but not exclusively, in three movements, which often contain one or more cadenzas, basically opportunities for the soloist to showcase his skill through extemporisation. (In other words the cadenzas are composed by the soloist for the occasion, rather than by the composer of the whole piece).
A symphony on the other hand is a large scale orchestral composition, usually in four movements, though not always. While there may be short sections where one instrument has a solo role, the work as a whole is for all the instruments together. The symphonies are a composer's most weighty and profound orchestral thoughts, though the greatest have always managed to include lighter hearted, witty moments where appropriate. Joseph Haydn wrote 107 of them!
Q: What does the Leader of an orchestra actually DO?
A: The Leader is always the principal First Violin, and sits in the right hand chair of the front desk of first violins, on the conductor's left side. Until the beginning of the nineteenth century, when orchestral music became more complex and orchestras became bigger, there was no conductor, and the Leader of the orchestra did just what it says on the tin - he lead the group. In some baroque orchestras the Leader still performs that role. The first violinist is always the Leader of chamber groups (quartets, quintets and so on.) It is the Leader's responsibility to 'bow' the first violin parts - so that all the players are bowing up or down simultaneously, and phrasing their music identically.
Nowadays, his or her job is even bigger, as the Leader performs a crucial communication role between the conductor and the orchestra, and between orchestra and conductor. They are diplomats, managers, agony aunts (uncles?) and headmasters or headmistresses all at the same time. It's a big and imoprtant role, held by only the most senior players, and the fact that they make their own entrance and exit at the beginning and end of concerts is a recognition of their importance in and to the orchestra.
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