We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Orchestra

Save
May 1, 2024 4 minute read

Orchestra is a large ensemble of musicians who play a variety of musical instruments, typically including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The word "orchestra" comes from the Greek word for "dancing place," and the orchestra is often positioned in front of the stage in a concert hall or opera house. Orchestras can range in size from a few dozen musicians to over 100, and they perform a wide variety of music, from classical to contemporary.

The History of the Orchestra

Share

Help others find this page about Orchestra: by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Orchestra.
This classic text on orchestration provides a thorough grounding in the principles and techniques of writing for the orchestra, making it an essential resource for composers and arrangers.
Provides a detailed history of the orchestra, from its origins in the Baroque period to its development in the Romantic and modern eras.
Explores the orchestra from a variety of perspectives, including its history, sociology, and performance practices, offering a well-rounded view of the subject.
Provides a comprehensive overview of orchestral music, including its history, repertoire, and performance practices.
Explores the orchestra in the Baroque era, focusing on its instrumentation, repertoire, and performance practices.
Provides a practical guide to the orchestra, its instruments, and its repertoire, making it a useful resource for musicians and music lovers alike.
Table of Contents
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser