Simple Stringed Instruments

From earliest days instruments have been inseparable from ceremonial magic and supernatural ritual. They are still associated with pageants and rites and their power to introduce mood change is well known. Another characteristic modern stringed instruments share with their earlier counterparts is that their primary components have remained the same, namely strings and a resonator.

The world “string” is used even though the strings of instruments such as the guitar, piano, harp, and violin are made of steel, nylon, or gut.

Violin - скрипка A widely-spread four string instrument, played with a bow, takes the first place in an orchestra as a solo-instrument. Famous violins of the XVIIth century belong to as a Stradivari, Amatti, Gwarneri, Stalian Virtuoso violinists: Carelli, Vivaldi, Paganini.

Viola [vioula] – альт It looks like a violin, but somewhat bigger. The tone is mellower and deeper than that of a fiddle. Its role in the orchestra is to fill the gap between cellos and double basses (at the foundation of the orchestra) and violens (first and second) above. It’s a string bow instrument.

Cello-виолончель It is still bigger. While playing it is put on the floor and held by the musician’s knee. Due to its wide range cello occupies the second place as a solo instrument, leading the melody. The tembre is warm, soulful, exciting. The pitch (строй) is lower than that of a viola by an octave.

Double bass (контрабас) The biggest string instrument in the orchestra. In the European orchestra serves as a foundation (опорный нижний голос). It was Beethoven who realized its full capacity.

Harp - (арфа) - one of the oldest string instruments, dating past to 3000. It has 46-47 strings getting shorter and shorter (the corresponding tone gets higher).

Wind Instruments

Historically, the range of wind instruments is as rich as that of stringed instruments, their use dates back well into prehistoric times as evidenced by the remains of bone flutes and couch shell horns that have been unearthed. Through the centuries, wind instruments have been used to signify special happenings or reserved for occasions of unusual significance. The triumphant marching of the Roman conquerors was always accompanied by music from long exotically curved trumpets. One might also consider the compelling flute music of the Pied Piper which cast spells of enchantment over animals and humans or the shattering and powerful horns of Gabriel in the Biblical heralding of the final judgment day. In contemporary times brass and winds have also been used to lead armies to war, to inspire nationalistic fervor, and to add pomp and splendor to festive occasions.

Flute (флейта) - an ancient wood instrument, mobile and light. The sound has a slightly hissing quality. The range is from low hollow to light piercing tones. The orchestra usually has two flutes and one piccolo. Piccolo has a piercing whistling sound which cuts through the orchestra.

Oboe (гобой) - the temper is nasal reminding that of a recorder (свирель). Since the air is blown through a special mouthpiece, the sound is somewhat cracked (надтреснутый) but clear, light and even piercing.The origin of it is Siria and Egypt.

English horn (англ. рожок) - a wood wind instrument, corresponds to oboe in the same way as viola corresponds to violin. It is bigger than oboe and its pitch lower than that of oboe by a quint (квинта, соль-до). The tember is peculiar – pronounced nasal. The classical example of using E.H. in Russian music is the introduction to Ratmir’s aria in “Руслан и Людмила”.

Clarinet (кларнет) - a wood wind instrument. The range is extremely wide and varied and noble-sounding. The tembre is gentle, warm, mellow. A most expressive voice in the orchestra. It was invented at the end of the XVIIth century. With the increase of the number of finger–holes its position in the orchestrawas made sufficiently secure. Mozart appreciated it to the full.

Tuba (туба) – is a bass wind instrument with a very wide bell. In an orchestra one is used as a rule. Double Bass is associated with Vagner’s name.

Bassoon (фагот) – a wood wind instrument, with extremely varied tones in different registers: from low, somewhat hoarse tones up to dim, cold and tense high tones, with quiet, calm, graceful, curvy tones in the center. These tones are equally capable of rendering fluid, smooth melodies of dream-like character on the one hand and whimsical, quick pacing ones, if the melodic line is jagged and broken.

French horn, Hunter’s horn, Waldhorn (валторна) – a brass wind instrument. One of the indispensable instruments in a European orchestra, it has a wide range, fluid, mellow sound, due to which is capable of rendering intricate melodic patterns, linking brass and wood, making the transition smoother.

Trumpet (труба) – a brass wind instrument with a short bell. Its tembre is sunny, virile, glamorous, triumphant.

Trombone (тромбон) – a brass wind instrument with a special, valve-like device changing the number of vibrations and the sound. In the wind group it occupies lower register (trumpets-the upper, French-horn - the center position.). The range is wide, more than three octaves. The sound is vigorous, sunny, solid and energetic.