Orchestra

Definition

There are four main sections to an orchestra: strings, woodwind, brass and percussion:

• Strings include 1st and 2nd violins, violas, cellos and double basses.
• Woodwind includes flutes (including piccolo), oboes, clarinets, bassoons.
• Brass includes French horns, trumpets, trombones and tubas.
• Percussion instruments include timpani (kettle drums) and other instruments which are hit or struck, e.g. snare drum, bass drum and xylophone.

Other instruments, such as the harp, are sometimes included in the orchestra.

Examples

The Simpsons theme played by an orchestra.

Related concepts

• Strings (N3 & N4 Tech)
• Woodwind (N3 & N4 Tech)
• Brass (N3 & N4 Tech)
• Percussion (N3 & N4 Tech)