COMBINATIONS OF INSTRUMENTS

Definiton:

Finding the right combination of instruments and sounds is an art form, and takes the same creative energy as choosing the right chord, creating a beautiful melody or writing engaging lyrics. A lot of time should be spent in choosing the sounds and instruments you will use in a recording, and how those sounds relate to one another. The instruments you use can define your sound.

ENSEMBLE MEDIA
When

two or more performers are equally engaged in playing or singing a piece of music, the medium is called an ensemble and the music is called ensemble music

ORCHESTRA
It

is the most spectacular of ensembles, composed of any sizable group of instrumental performers usually under the direction of a conductor. An orchestra may vary in size from a relatively small groups to an ensemble of a hundred or more players.

ORCHESTRA

THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The symphony orchestra is a large ensemble which includes all the principal instrumental types. It has four sections corresponding to the four instrumental groupings; the string, the woodwind; the brass and the percussion section. Each of these sections has at least one instrument which falls into each of the four basic ranges: soprano, alto, tenor and bass

CONCERTO
The

concerto is a form written for orchestra and usually one solo instrument (piano, violin, and the like) is given a prominent role in music.

CONCERTO

BAND
A

band is an instrument ensemble, large like the orchestra but consisting mainly or exclusively of wind and percussion instruments.

BAND

THE RONDALLA

This is the best-known instrumental group in the Philippines today. It is a band made up mostly of stringed instruments: the banduria, which assumes the lead part and plays the melody; the laud and the octavina, which carry the alto and passages; and the guitarra and the banjo, which give solidity to the rhythm and support the harmony.

THE RONDALLA (banduria, octavina, piccolo, guitarra and banjo)

MIXED ENSEMBLES
A

considerable literature of music exists for large mixed ensembles which include instruments and voices.

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

The term chamber orchestra is applied to small instrumental ensembles in which there are only a few performers for a part. Chamber orchestras are in a category of ensemble between a chamber ensemble and the full orchestra,

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

SOLO SONATAS
Music

written for a solo instrument, with an accompaniment by such instruments as the piano or harpsichord, belongs to the category of chamber music ensemble.

STRING QUARTET
The

most common medium of chamber music appears to be the string quartet. It consists of two violins, a viola, and a cello.

SPECIAL ENSEMBLES

As music evolves, composers search for new media more congenial to their changing musical ideas. In the Philippines, a new kind of ensemble has developed. The Filipinos are lovers of music and perhaps due to strong family ties, have featured family ensembles.

CONDUCTOR

The conductor is the director of the orchestra. He has to know every detail of the music and be able to give the most precise directions with his baton and hands.