capriccio81 Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Hi all! Greetings from Switzerland! I'm new in this forum and I hope that I'm posting my question in the right section! I have a big problem and I hope that someone can help me with it. As I'm very new to the subject of composing and orchestration, I would like to know how do I calculate the strings in a symphony orchestra ? What I mean is... if the scores for example says this: 2-2-2-2 -4-2-3 (Richard Wagner Symphony No 2) or 2-2-2-2-2-2 (Franz Schubert Symphony No. 3) how do I know how many strings I will need to perform this piece ? Thank you for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flint Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Those numbers aren't referring to strings, they are referring to the winds and brass. 2-2-2-2-4-2-3 = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones. Etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Strings are normally denoted as follows: 1st violins / 2nd violins / violas / celli / double basses. 10/8/6/4/2, 12/10/8/6/4, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardener Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Yeah. And most of the time the number of strings isn't prescribed in the composition at all. (Or it just says something along the line of "a lot of them" :P) Generally an orchestra just takes how many strings they have, unless the style of a composition asks for a small orchestra, or an especially large one (also taking in account how large the winds section is, for balance). Most pieces work with much fewer strings than "intended", it just won't sound as full, and most composers are quite used to the fact that they have to accept whatever an orchestra can offer them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capriccio81 Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 Thank you very much to all of you for your help ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James H. Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Haha! Someone else says "celli" ! Finally! Except I noticed no one uses the apostrophe. 'Celli. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Using an apostrophe with the word "celli" (or indeed "cello") is pretty superfluous nowadays. No more mandatory than 'piano or 'phone. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardener Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 One could argue that when you use "celli" you should also say "viole". (Not that I do it, myself, mind you.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jujimufu Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 'phone for virbraphone? :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Userdoe1560 Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 ...if the scores for example says this: 2-2-2-2 -4-2-3 (Richard Wagner Symphony No 2) or... Wagner only wrote one symphony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flint Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Wagner only wrote one symphony But lots of crap! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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