The sound of a great symphony orchestra in full flight is one of the most thrilling sounds in all of western classical music. This course explores the instruments of the orchestra and the variety of sounds they can achieve, and examines the growth and development of the symphony orchestra. It also explores the kind of music written for the orchestra, by examining some of the greatest composers and compositions of all time. No musical knowledge is necessary.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

COURSE OUTLINE

• What is a symphony orchestra? - The Structure of a Symphony Orchestra; The instrument families
• The String Section - Violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp
• The Woodwind Section - Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon
• The Brass Section - Trumpet, trombone, horn, tuba
• The Percussion Section - Tuned and untuned percussion instruments
• Conductors and Conducting - What the conductor does; Interpreting the work and controlling the orchestra
• Orchestration - how instruments combine

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. List the main families of instruments in the orchestra
2. List some specific examples orchestral instruments
3. Describe some of the features of the development of the orchestra