How are the families in an orchestra defined?
In an orchestra, families are groups of instruments that share similar characteristics and are grouped together based on their sound and how they are played. These families typically include strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments.
1. Strings: This family includes instruments like the violin, viola, cello, and double bass. They produce sound by vibrating strings that are played with a bow or plucked with fingers.
2. Woodwinds: This family comprises instruments like the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone. They produce sound by blowing air into a mouthpiece or reed, which causes the air column inside the instrument to vibrate.
3. Brass: This family includes instruments like the trumpet, trombone, French horn, and tuba. They produce sound by buzzing the lips into a cup-shaped mouthpiece, which creates vibrations amplified by the instrument's tubing.
4. Percussion: This family includes instruments like the drums, cymbals, timpani (kettle drums), xylophone, marimba, and various other handheld percussion instruments. They produce sound by either striking, shaking, or scraping the instrument to create vibrations.
Each family has its own characteristic sound and playing technique, and they often play together to create a harmonious orchestral sound. Additionally, within each family, there may be further subcategories based on size, range, or specific features of the instruments.