The Development of the Orchestra

The first 200 words of this essay...

The Development of the Orchestra

The orchestra as we know it now did not exist before the 17th century. In this century the orchestra was just beginning (and developing on from the renaissance era where orchestra's had only just began to be used).

Factors influencing this development include instrumental technology, playing techniques, economics, the role of music directors and changes in musical tastes. A major theme though is how ensembles try to move with the times yet remain faithful to tradition - a conflict orchestras face today. (For example, when referring to a technique used back in the baroque/classical era, they have to choose whether to use a modern or traditional version of the instrument.)

The violin family, violin, viola, cello and bass, replaced the viols that were previously used in the renaissance era, and this new kind of string section became central to the Baroque orchestra. This century also showed the favouring of strings for their particular sound, which developed into the heart of the orchestra. Improvements occurred in the construction of instruments, the progress of music compositions, and the development in the technique of performance.

Musical leadership in the Baroque orchestra came from